Implant Associated Infection: Victorious Germs or Avoidable Complication?

Thorsten Gehrke: Both Dr. Parvizi and I came up with the idea to organize a meeting of this type. It's necessary because right now there are no global standards for prevention, diagnostics and treatment; no scientific evidence is available; and there is great uncertainty worldwide regarding the treatment of periprosthetic infections. Because it is extremely difficult and ethically problematic to justify conducting evidence-level-1 clinical studies (prospective randomized studies), we decided that if there’s no evidence then there should at least be consensus. Using the Delphi method, consensus is achieved if the majority of experts has a single opinion regarding a particular issue based on whatever scientific data and related publications are available.