Campylobacter coli prosthetic hip infection associated with ingestion of contaminated oysters

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Orthopedic Surgery

Background:

• Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are serious complications following hip replacement surgery.
• Campylobacter species are common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis but rarely implicated in PJIs.
• Campylobacter coli is an underrecognized pathogen in invasive infections.

Observation:

• A patient developed a prosthetic hip joint infection with symptoms suggestive of deep infection.
• Initial diagnostic smears and cultures presented challenges in identifying the causative agent.
• The infection was ultimately attributed to Campylobacter coli.

Findings:

• The prosthetic hip joint infection was confirmed to be caused by Campylobacter coli.
• The presumed source of infection was the ingestion of raw oysters.
• Difficulties were encountered in smear interpretation, bacterial culture isolation, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Implications:

• This case expands the spectrum of pathogens causing prosthetic hip joint infections.
• It underscores the potential for foodborne pathogens like Campylobacter coli to cause deep-seated infections.
• Clinicians should consider Campylobacter species in the differential diagnosis of PJIs, especially with relevant exposure history.