Plasma inflammatory proteomics comparing dormant infections and uninfected joint replacements revealed 9 proteins (Fig. 8B) suggesting a chronic inflammatory state (EGF, GZMN, FGF2, PTN, MMP12) during dormant infection that involves a reduction in neutrophil recruitment (CXCL5, p = 0.006, t-test), antigen presentation (LAMP3, p = 0.047, t-test), and T-cell function (CD28, p = 0.045, t-test; CD70, p = 0.002, t-test) seen during the development of bacterial tolerance. The gene discussed is PTN; the disease is infection.