[Mitigated erysipelas after implantation of foreign material]

When an infection occurs in the incisional area following surgery where foreign materials (i. e. endoprostheses, metal plates or plastic meshes) are implanted, a revision may become necessary because an infection in the area of the implant and involvement of the implant itself cannot be ruled out. In the case of a mitigated erysipelas, cultures taken during the revision seldom show bacterial growth. The disease progresses because surgery does not solve the problem of a weakened immune system and lymph stasis; on the contrary, it usually deteriorates the situation. A high dose antibiotic regimen is recommended as therapy for the mitigated erysipelas instead of an operative revision orally given. levofloxacin has proven to be successful reducing the recurrence rate. The course of two patients with mitigated erysipelas is represented for example in form of case studies. The patients were underwent several surgical revisions. But we had not to explant the endoprostheses at all. Finally both patients were treated with levofloxacin without further relapses.