Targeted next generation sequencing for elbow periprosthetic joint infection diagnosis

16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene PCR followed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) was compared to culture of sonicate fluid derived from total elbow arthroplasty for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) diagnosis. Sonicate fluids collected from 2007 to 2019 from patients who underwent revision of a total elbow arthroplasty were retrospectively analyzed at a single institution. PCR amplification of the V1-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene was performed, followed by NGS using an Illumina MiSeq. Results were compared to those of sonicate fluid culture using McNemar's test of paired proportions. Forty-seven periprosthetic joint infections and 58 non-infectious arthroplasty failures were studied. Sensitivity of targeted NGS was 85%, compared to 77% for culture (P = 0.045). Specificity and positive and negative predictive values of targeted NGS were 98, 98 and 89%, respectively, compared to 100, 100 and 84%, respectively, for culture. 16S rRNA gene-based targeted metagenomic analysis of sonicate fluid was more sensitive than culture.