Latest trends in biosensors powered by nucleic acid isothermal amplification for the diagnosis of joint infections: from sampling to identification towards the point-of-care

As the number of joint arthroplasties continues to increase, joint infections have emerged as a significant and devastating complication associated with total joint arthroplasty. The formation and persistence of bacterial biofilms create a formidable barrier against both the host immune system and antibiotics, contributing to the pathogenesis of joint infections, antibiotic resistance, and treatment failures. This review examines the latest trends on biosensors powered by isothermal nucleic acid amplification technologies designed to manage joint infections, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages, with a particular attention on their integration into point-of-care testing. In detail, a special focus on such innovative approaches for rapid and specific identification of pathogenic nucleic acids will cover the entire process from sampling to extraction, amplification, and detection methods.