Table 1.: Data on 17 Patients Suspected of Infective Arthritis with Bacteria Detected/Identified in Synovial Fluids by 23S rRNA gene Analysis and/or Conventional Microbiological Detection (Microscopy/Culture)

Case Sex, Age in Years Affected Joint 23S rRNA-analysis Conventional
Culture		 Microscopy
1 M, 73 Right elbow S. pneumoniae S. pneumoniae Streptococci seen
2 F, 1 Elbow S. pneumoniae S.pneumoniae Streptococci seen
3 M, 55 Right hip S. pneumoniae No growth Streptococci seen
4 M, 78 Left knee S dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis S. dysgalactiae Streptococci seen
5 M, 65 Knee S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis No growth Microorganisms not seen
6 M, 66 Left knee S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis No growth Microorganisms not seen
7 M, 57 Left elbow S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis S. dysgalactiae and CNS Microorganisms not seen
8 F, 66 Right elbow S. aureus S. aureus Staphylococci seen
9 F, 80 Left shoulder S. aureus S. aureus Staphylococci seen
10 F, 75 Left knee S. aureus S. aureus Staphylococci seen
11 F, 78 Knee S. aureus S. aureus Staphylococci seen
12 M, 64 Right knee S. aureus S. aureus Staphylococci seen
13 M, 20 Right ankle IE S. aureus Microorganisms not seen.
14 M, 50 Elbow IE S. aureus Microorganisms not seen
15 M, 55 Left knee and ankle, right wrist S. aureus S. aureus Microorganisms not seen.
16 M, 43 Left knee IE CNS Microorganisms not seen.
17 F, 44 Left knee C. freundiia C. freundii P. aeruginosa Microorganisms not seen.

S. pneumoniae: Streptococcus pneumoniae; S. dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis: Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis; S. aureus Staphylococcus aureus; C. freundii: Citrobacter freundii; P. aeruginosa: Pseudomonas aeruginosaCNS: Koagulase negative staphylococci.; IE: Incomplete examination (less than 1 ml synovial fluid and/or inhibition of PCR reaction) a: polymicrobial etiology could not be excluded.