Over 110 million joint replacements occur annually, with bacterial infections as a severe complication. These infections, whether prosthetic or native joint-related, can result in revision surgeries, chronic pain, or death, imposing significant economic burdens. Conventional diagnostics rely on time-consuming microbial cultures or advanced molecular panels, such as the BIOFIRE® Joint Infection Panel. While the latter offers faster detection through multiplex PCR it recognizes only certain bacteria and its high cost, as well as dependency on laboratory infrastructure limit widespread adoption. These problems lead to delayed treatment, overtreatment with antibiotics, and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. There remains a pressing need for affordable, rapid, and accurate POC diagnostic tools that enable timely and precise clinical decisions.