Mycobacterium abscessus Periprosthetic joint infection following bilateral Total Knee arthroplasty

We report a case of difficult diagnosis of bilateral PJI caused by Mycobacterium abscessus, following bilateral total knee arthroplasty in an elderly male, but treated successfully despite prolonged infection. M. abscessus complex comprises a group of rapidly growing, multidrug-resistant NTM, capable of forming biofilms on prostheses, responsible for wide spectrum of hospital acquired infections. M. abscessus as a cause of PJI is not reported widely. There are a few cases described in literature worldwide. There are no policy guidelines available for treating such cases. High clinical suspicion, with a concerted effort to grow and identify the causal pathogen is important. Standard anti-tubercular therapy is not recommended for treatment due to inherent resistance. Complete excision of infected tissues and removal of prosthesis along with prolonged combination antimicrobial regimen is the treatment of choice.Graphical abstract
Source: IDCases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research