Prosthetic joint infection after total hip arthroplasty caused by Sneathia sanguinegens: A case report (CARE-complaint). Issue 41 (9th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kawakami, Shohei; Iwata, Ken; Shimamura, Masashi; Mashiba, Tasuku; Yokota, Kyoko; Negayama, Kiyoshi; Ohkusu, Kiyofumi; Yamamoto, Tetsuji
• Other Names: Saranathan. Maya section editor.
• Is Part Of: Medicine. Volume 99:Issue 41(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10-09
• Subjects: case report -- polymerase chain reaction -- prosthetic joint infection -- Sneathia sanguinegens -- total hip arthroplasty; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Périodiques; Geneeskunde; Medicine; Periodicals; Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000022494
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-7974

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Sneathia sanguinegens ( S sanguinegens) is a gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium mostly reported to cause a perinatal infection, and there are no reports of S sanguinegens in prosthetic joint infection (PJI). The purpose of this report is to describe a very rare case of PJI after total hip arthroplasty (THA) caused by S sanguinegens . Patient concerns: A 79-year-old woman presented with right coxalgia, inability to walk, and a fever of 39°C. She had undergone THA 28 years earlier for osteoarthritis of the hip. Diagnoses: The diagnosis was acute late-onset PJI, because blood tests revealed marked inflammatory reaction and computed tomography showed an abscess at the right hip joint; synovial fluid analysis resulted in detection of a gram-negative bacillus. Intervention: Surgical debridement with retention of the implant and antibiotic therapy was performed. Outcomes: One month after surgery, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay showed that the pathogen was 99.9% likely to be S sanguinegens . There has been no recurrence of infection or loosening of the implant in the 2 years since her surgery. Lessons: PCR should facilitate detection of previously unknown pathogens and potentially novel bacterial species.