Novel Therapies for Prosthetic Joint Infections Caused by Methicillin-Resistant <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a serious complication following total joint replacement, with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) being the primary pathogen. The treatment challenges posed by MRSA's antibiotic resistance further highlight the critical importance of research in this field. Current antibiotic therapies for periprosthetic joint infection caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA-PJI) are limited by considerable side effects, such as high costs and the development of resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore novel alternative or adjunctive therapies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of several innovative therapeutic strategies. These include monoclonal therapies that target specific bacterial components; phage therapy, which can either independently or synergistically degrade biofilms and enhance antimicrobial efficacy, characterized by its high specificity; antimicrobial peptides, capable of disrupting bacterial membrane integrity and exhibiting dual antibiofilm activity, with a reduced tendency to induce resistance; as well as nanoparticles and hydrogels, which function as drug delivery systems for sustained release, thereby improving both preventive and therapeutic outcomes. However, these novel therapies also face challenges such as high production costs and limited stability, underscoring the need for further research and optimization. Future efforts should focus on additional studies, clinical trials, and the development of robust regulatory frameworks to fully realize the potential of these treatments for MRSA-PJI.