A Rare Case of Prosthetic Joint Infection with Streptococcus gordonii

BACKGROUND Chronic prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication following total joint arthroplasty, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. The criterion standard of treatment for chronic PJI is two-stage revision arthroplasty consisting of complete hardware removal, thorough irrigation and debridement, placement of an antibiotic spacer, prolonged intravenous antibiotics based on culture sensitivities, and revision total knee arthroplasty once the infection resolves. The most common organism implicated in chronic PJI is Staphylococcus aureus. CASE REPORT In this report, we have summarized the case of a 75-year-old woman who developed chronic PJI caused by an unusual organism, Streptococcus gordonii, 1 year after a right total knee arthroplasty. S. gordonii is a gram-positive organism that is an oral flora and a colonizer of human teeth. This organism is known to create biofilm on the human teeth, more commonly known as dental plaque. S. gordonii has the ability to travel to extraoral sites and cause infection. It has been found to be a cause of subacute bacterial endocarditis, but it has been rarely described in the literature as a cause of prosthetic joint infection. Treatment of S. gordonii requires a tailored approach. CONCLUSIONS This case report highlights the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic prosthetic joint infection caused by S. gordonii and identifies a rare cause of PJI that is not well documented in the literature. Streptococcal PJI portends a poorer prognosis, and identification of this organism is crucial for prompt treatment and improved outcomes for PJI.