Santa Rosa Orthopaedics is proud to announce that research led by Thomas W. Axelrad, MD, PhD, has been accepted for poster presentation at the 44th Annual Meeting of the European Bone and Joint Infection Society, held in cooperation with MSIS, The MusculoSkeletal Infection Society.
The international conference, known as EBJIS-MSIS 2026, will take place September 17 to 19, 2026, in Porto, Portugal. It brings together clinicians, surgeons, scientists, and researchers from around the world who are focused on preventing, diagnosing, and treating bone and joint infections.
Dr. Axelrad’s research team includes Jack Grace, MS2, LSUHSC School of Medicine, New Orleans, and Ned Mayeaux, MS2, LSUHSC School of Medicine, New Orleans. The students are participating as individuals, and their school affiliation is included for biographical identification.
Two abstracts were accepted for poster presentation:
- Culture-Negative Periprosthetic Knee Infection Caused by Dielma fastidiosa Identified by Broad-Range 16S rRNA PCR
- Outcomes of Long-Term Antibiotic Spacer Retention in Knee PJI After Total Knee Arthroplasty
Grace was also awarded the MSIS-EBJIS 2026 Travel Award to support presenting this work at the conference.
Why This Research Matters
Hip and knee replacements are among the most successful procedures in modern medicine, helping many people return to walking, working, exercising, and enjoying daily life with less pain. In rare cases, however, infection can develop around an artificial joint. This is known as a periprosthetic joint infection, or PJI, and it can be one of the most serious complications a joint replacement patient may face.
These infections are challenging because bacteria can sometimes attach to the surface of an implant and form a protective layer called a biofilm. Once protected inside a biofilm, bacteria can be harder to treat with antibiotics alone. Some patients may need additional surgery, specialized testing, long-term antibiotic planning, or a staged approach to care.
That is why research in this area matters. Better understanding of joint infections can help surgeons and care teams improve diagnosis, refine treatment strategies, and support better outcomes for patients facing complicated infections.
One accepted abstract focuses on a culture-negative periprosthetic knee infection identified through broad-range 16S rRNA PCR, a molecular testing method that can help detect bacterial genetic material when routine cultures do not identify a specific organism. The other focuses on outcomes of long-term antibiotic spacer retention in knee PJI after total knee arthroplasty. The specific research findings will be reserved for presentation at EBJIS-MSIS 2026, but both topics reflect important real-world questions in complex joint replacement care.
Mentoring the Next Generation of Physicians
This accomplishment also reflects the importance of mentorship in medicine. Grace and Mayeaux worked under Dr. Axelrad’s guidance as co-authors on the research, contributing to projects that will now be shared with an international audience.
Medical education does not happen only in classrooms or hospitals. It also happens through research, careful case review, thoughtful writing, and collaboration with experienced physicians. When students participate in scholarly work, they learn how to ask better questions, evaluate evidence, and think deeply about patient care.
A Word from Dr. Axelrad
“Infection is one of the most serious complications a joint replacement patient can face, and treating it well requires constant learning and collaboration. Being selected to share our work at an international meeting alongside the world’s leading experts in this field is an honor. What matters most is that this research helps surgeons everywhere take better care of patients, and it was a privilege to do this work alongside two talented future physicians.”
Advancing Care, Close to Home
Santa Rosa Orthopaedics has served the North Bay for decades. Recognition at an international meeting like EBJIS-MSIS 2026 shows how community-based orthopaedic care can remain closely connected to the wider world of medical progress.
Patients who choose SRO are cared for by physicians who are not only treating orthopaedic problems every day, but also engaging with research, education, and collaboration beyond the walls of the practice.
We congratulate Dr. Axelrad, Jack Grace, and Ned Mayeaux on this achievement, and we look forward to sharing highlights from the conference this fall.
Because at Santa Rosa Orthopaedics, everything we do comes back to one promise: We Keep You in Motion.
