New Perspectives and Innovations in Prosthetic Joint Infections

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is dedicated to exploring new perspectives and innovations in the diagnosis, surgical management, and antibacterial therapy of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). PJIs represent a significant and complex complication following joint replacement surgeries, often leading to severe morbidity, extended hospital stays, and, in some cases, necessitating additional surgical interventions, such as revision surgeries or prosthesis removal. Traditional treatment approaches typically involve prolonged courses of antibiotics combined with surgical debridement or the replacement of the infected prosthetic joint. However, these methods are not always successful, and the recurrence of infections remains a major concern.

This Special Issue emphasizes the criticality of employing a multidisciplinary approach in the management of PJIs, while also highlighting the inherent challenges associated with achieving accurate diagnoses and implementing effective treatment strategies.

This Special Issue will also underscore the importance of personalized treatment strategies that are tailored to each patient’s specific condition and clinical health data. Additionally, it will explore the potential use of machine learning in identifying high-risk patients, offering new avenues for improving patient outcomes.

Overall, this Special Issue aims to serve as a comprehensive platform for presenting novel insights, thereby making a significant contribution to the field.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics: (i) the development and use of more effective antimicrobial therapies to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria (e.g., novel antibiotics, phage therapy); (ii) innovations in diagnostic techniques, such as advancements in molecular diagnostics (e.g., next-generation sequencing) and advanced imaging technologies; and (iii) advances in biomaterials designed to reduce the risk of infection by inhibiting bacterial colonization and the formation of biofilms on implant surfaces (e.g., antimicrobial coatings for prosthetic implants).

We welcome the submission of both review and original research articles; however, contributions are not limited to these types of manuscripts. Through the collective sharing of knowledge and experience, we can enhance our understanding and management of PJIs.

We look forward to receiving your submissions.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Tropicalmed.

Dr. Novella Cesta
Dr. Rareş Mircea Bîrluţiu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• prosthetic joint infection
• phage therapy
• diagnostic tools in PJIs
• antimicrobial resistance
• biofilm-associated infections
• antimicrobial therapy in PJIs
• surgical outcomes
• surgical management