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. 2019 May 10;8(5):650. doi: 10.3390/jcm8050650

Table 3.

WAIOT proposed definition of peri-prosthetic joint infection (PJI).

No Infection Contamination BIM LG-PJI HG-PJI
Clinical presentation One or more condition(s), other than infection, can cause the symptoms or the reason for reoperation (e.g., wear debris, metallosis, recurrent dislocation or joint instability, fracture, malposition, neuropathic pain) One or more of the followings: otherwise “unexplained” pain, swelling, stiffness Two or more of the followings: pain, swelling, redness, warmth, functio laesa
# of Positive Rule IN
minus
# of Negative Rule OUT tests
<0 <0 <0 ≥0 ≥1
Post-operatively confirmed if Negative cultural examination One pre- or intra-operative positive culture, with negative histology Positive cultural examination (preferably with antibiofilm techniques) and/or positive histology

Abbreviations: WAIOT: World Association against Infection in Orthopedics and Trauma; BIM: Biofilm-related Implant malfunction; LG-PJI: Low-Grade Peri-Prosthetic Joint Infection; HG-PJI: High-Grade Peri-Prosthetic Joint Infection.