Point-of-care devices for the detection of biomarkers of periprosthetic joint infection: State of the art and future perspectives

One of the main issues in the management of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is related to the correct diagnosis. Current guidelines for PJI infection are based on the 2018 Philadelphia Consensus Criteria which encompasses major and minor criteria, where minor criteria are based on the detection of selected biomarkers in synovial fluid or serum samples. In 2021, the European Bone and Joint Infection Society revised the aforementioned criteria; however, current methods require a long analysis time. In this overall scenario, we report the state of the art and the recent advances of point-of-care devices and implantable sensors for a new diagnostic approach in the diagnosis of PJI by quantifying well-established and emerging biomarkers in serum, blood, and synovial fluid. Finally, future challenges and perspectives have been reported, highlighting the relevance of sensing devices for paving a new concept of diagnosis and monitoring in the PJI field to solve this important issue.