New Perspectives in Bone and Joint Infections Diagnosis and Treatment

Bone and joint infections represent a growing global health concern, particularly in the context of increasing surgical procedures such as joint arthroplasties and fracture fixation. Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) and fracture-related infections (FRI) pose significant challenges due to their complexity, diagnostic difficulty, and the rising prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. These infections are associated with high morbidity, multiple surgical interventions, and substantial healthcare costs. In contrast, in low-resource settings, "ancient" infections such as osteoarticular tuberculosis remain prevalent, reflecting a different spectrum of disease burden that continues to impact millions globally.

This Research Topic aims to explore the emerging diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the field. Among the most promising innovations, the role of molecular diagnostic techniques, including Next-Generation Sequencing and advanced PCR-based methods, needs to be still clarified. These tools offer potential for earlier and more precise pathogen identification, yet their role in routine clinical practice is still under investigation and standardization.

The application of novel biomaterials in orthopedic surgery—such as antimicrobial coatings, bioactive scaffolds, and resorbable antibiotic delivery systems—represents another frontier. These materials aim to enhance local infection control and support bone regeneration, with ongoing research needed to assess their role in the different scenarios.

Recent years have also seen the development of new antibiotics and combinations designed to combat multidrug-resistant organisms commonly implicated in PJI and FRI. Understanding the pharmacokinetics and optimizing the local and systemic use of these agents is crucial for successful outcomes.

Preventive strategies are equally vital. Advances in surgical techniques, perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, and patient optimization protocols are contributing to infection reduction. Further research into individualized risk stratification and infection surveillance methods is warranted.

Ultimately, managing bone and joint infections requires a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach involving orthopedic surgeons, infectious disease specialists, microbiologists, and biomedical researchers. Only through such cooperation can we hope to overcome the complex challenges these infections present.

We invite articles that tackle, but are not limited to, the following themes:
o The integration of molecular diagnostics into routine clinical practice
o Innovations in biomaterials for orthopedic applications
o The development and efficacy of new antibiotics against multidrug-resistant pathogens
o Advances in preventive strategies and surgical techniques
o The role of multidisciplinary collaboration in managing bone and joint infections
o The use and potential of phages in the treatment of bone infections

We welcome submissions in the form of original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, commentaries and clinical case reports, related to these topics.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: bone infections, joint infections, molecular diagnostics, antibiotic resistance, biomaterials, orthopedic surgery, multidisciplinary approach.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.