Authors: Kent Ellington, Steven Raikin, Thomas B. Bemenderfer

RECOMMENDATION: Transfer of synovial aspirate in blood culture bottles, obtaining deep biopsy of tissues and bone, obtaining multiple samples, increasing incubation period of cultures and the use of molecular techniques for culture negative cases are some of the strategies that can help improve the ability to isolate the causative organism(s) in infections of foot and ankle.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Moderate

DELEGATE VOTE: Agree: 100%, Disagree: 0%, Abstain: 0% (Unanimous, Strongest Consensus)

FA-22