Are there significant differences in the yield of culture between preoperative aspiration and intraoperative culture samples? If so, which result should be utilized?

Authors: Tobias Winkler, Carl Deirmengian, Doruk Akgün

RECOMMENDATION: There may be differences in the yield of culture between preoperative aspiration and intraoperative culture samples, particularly in the case of polymicrobial infections or low-virulence organisms. The collection of multiple intraoperative tissue samples is considered by many experts to provide the highest yield in isolating organisms from a joint.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Limited

DELEGATE VOTE: Agree: 98%, Disagree: 1%, Abstain: 1% (Unanimous, Strongest Consensus)