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Actinomyces gerencseriae hip prosthesis infection: a case report
Grégory Dubourg1,2, Marion Delord3, Frédérique Gouriet4,5
1Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005, Marseille, France. greg.dubourg@gmail.com.
Journal of Medical Case Reports
|September 30, 2015
Summary
Actinomyces gerencseriae, a rare cause of human infection, was identified as the cause of a hip prosthesis infection. Prompt antibiotic treatment successfully resolved the infection.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Actinomyces bacteria are commensal oropharyngeal microbiota.
- Actinomyces species are implicated in various infections, including cervicofacial, thoracic, and abdominal sites.
- Actinomyces gerencseriae, previously Actinomyces israelii serovar II, is rarely associated with human infections, primarily cervicofacial and periodontal conditions.
Observation:
- A 72-year-old male presented with an inflammatory thigh collection 11 years post-hip prosthesis implantation.
- Initial cultures revealed Staphylococcus hominis and an unidentified Gram-positive bacillus.
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified the bacillus as Actinomyces gerencseriae.
Findings:
- This case represents the first documented joint infection caused by Actinomyces gerencseriae.
- The hip prosthesis infection was successfully treated with amoxicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
Implications:
- Highlights the potential for Actinomyces gerencseriae to cause prosthetic joint infections.
- Emphasizes the importance of advanced molecular techniques like 16S rRNA sequencing for identifying rare pathogens.
- Suggests Actinomyces gerencseriae should be considered in the differential diagnosis of prosthetic joint infections.
