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Micromonas (Peptostreptococcus) micros: unusual case of prosthetic joint infection associated with dental procedures

Holger Bartz1, Claudia b Nonnenmacher, Christine Bollmann

  • 1Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Pilgrimstein 2, D-35037 Marburg, Germany.

International Journal of Medical Microbiology : IJMM
|February 18, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Micromonas micros, an anaerobic bacterium, can cause prosthetic joint infections, often linked to dental procedures like tooth extraction. Sensitive molecular methods are crucial for diagnosing these rare M. micros infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Orthopedic Surgery

Background:

  • Micromonas micros is a known pathogen in various infections but rarely implicated in prosthetic joint infections.
  • Dental procedures can be a source of systemic infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of prosthetic joint infection caused by Micromonas micros.
  • To highlight the association between dental procedures and prosthetic joint infections.
  • To emphasize the need for advanced diagnostic techniques.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a 63-year-old woman with total hip arthroplasty infection.
  • Intraoperative and oral cavity samples analyzed.
  • Identification of Micromonas micros using culture and real-time PCR.

Main Results:

  • Micromonas micros was identified as the causative agent of the prosthetic joint infection.
  • M. micros was detected in both intraoperative and oral cavity samples.
  • The infection was associated with a recent tooth extraction.

Conclusions:

  • Prosthetic joint infections can originate from dental procedures.
  • Micromonas micros should be considered in the differential diagnosis of prosthetic joint infections post-dental procedures.
  • Real-time PCR is a valuable tool for the routine diagnosis of M. micros infections.

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