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A landmark multi-center study, "An Enhanced Understanding of Culture-Negative Periprosthetic Joint Infection with Next-Generation Sequencing", has been recognized as one of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery's Notable Articles of 2022. The article, which was published on June 20, 2022, found that Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) reliably detected potential pathogens in over two-thirds of culture-negative cases. 

The head-to-head comparison featured a cohort of over 300 patients that was drawn from 14 top orthopedic institutions, including the Rothman Institute of Orthopedics, Cleveland Clinic, and Rush University Medical Center, over the course of June 2016 to August 2020. The patients all met the 2018 ICM PJI infection criteria and were tested using both NGS and laboratory culture. In 81 of the Periprosthetic Joint Infection (PJI) cases studied (28%), culture was negative, leaving physicians with no knowledge of what to treat. Of those 81, NGS found potential pathogens in 56 patients, with 91% of those 56 cases being polymicrobial (multiple organisms).

Periprosthetic joint infection has a higher mortality rate than prostate cancer, melanoma, or breast cancer. Negative cultures in these cases leave doctors questioning what antimicrobials should be prescribed (forcing them to treat empirically). Just as the 2018 ICM PJI infection criteria helps physicians determine the likelihood of PJI, NGS can now be used to determine the causative organisms. NGS overcomes the failures of traditional culture by seeking out microbes using their DNA rather than relying on growth.

"We are very proud that a paper that utilized our testing was chosen for this distinction. We hope this will bring further attention to NGS and how it can help save lives and limbs." - Rick Martin, CEO MicroGenDX

About MicroGenDX

Founded in 2008, MicroGenDX has become the industry leader in rapid turnaround and affordability for comprehensive Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and qPCR testing for clinical diagnostics. MicroGenDX is CLIA-licensed and CAP-accredited, and has been the trusted research partner for the CDC, U.S. Army, NASA and the FDA. MicroGenDX has published over 70 clinical studies and is the most experienced molecular diagnostic laboratory with some 1.5 million samples processed. MicroGenDX NGS testing is available in all hospitals and reimbursable with an AMA and CMS approved PLA Code. This multicenter study was funded by MicroGenDX.

References

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35726882

https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/joint-replacement-infection

https://hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/projections/2012-03.pdf

https://jbjs.org/reader.php?rsuite_id=00135dd4-90d0-4b16-a56a-7f1bc7a57ef9&native=1&source=The_Journal_of_Bone_and_Joint_Surgery%2FPublish+Ahead+of+Print%2F%2F10.2106%2FJBJS.22.01396%2Ffulltext#info