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Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus infected total knee arthroplasty

M D Ries1

  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0728, USA. riesm@orthosurg.ucsf.edu

The Journal of Arthroplasty
|September 8, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus can arise from treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Two patients developed nosocomial vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus infections after knee surgery, requiring extensive treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Vancomycin is crucial for treating infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
  • Widespread vancomycin use has led to the emergence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE).
  • Enterococcal infections pose significant challenges, particularly in hospital settings.

Observation:

  • Two patients developed postoperative infections following total knee arthroplasty.
  • These infections were identified as nosocomial, caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus.
  • Both patients required multiple surgical interventions for infection control.

Findings:

  • Serial open débridements were employed to manage the VRE infections.
  • One patient achieved successful knee fusion.
  • The other patient's knee was managed with resection arthroplasty.

Implications:

  • Highlights the risk of VRE development secondary to vancomycin use for MRSA.
  • Underscores the challenges of treating nosocomial VRE infections in orthopedic surgery.
  • Demonstrates the need for effective management strategies for VRE in prosthetic joint infections.

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