Clinical treatment of mycobacterial prosthetic joint infections

Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) caused by mycobacteria are exceptionally rare and often underrecognized in clinical practice.

Although most PJIs are due to common bacterial pathogens, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) represent a unique subset with distinct microbiological and therapeutic challenges. The presence of biofilms further complicates their management, often requiring intensive pharmacological interventions and surgical strategies. This review analyzes over 300 reported cases of mycobacterial PJIs. The findings indicate that tuberculous PJIs typically occur as late-onset infections and are managed successfully with prolonged antituberculous therapy. In contrast, NTM PJIs - predominantly caused by rapidly growing species - are more heterogeneous in onset, resistance patterns, and treatment responses. Antibiotic regimens are often complex, species-specific, and require guidance from susceptibility testing. Therapeutic decisions often rely on expert consensus and extrapolation from pulmonary disease protocols. Surgical intervention, particularly implant removal, consistently correlates with better outcomes in both groups.

Clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion in culture-negative PJIs or cases with atypical clinical presentations to reach a proper diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is established, a multidisciplinary approach is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes. Further research is warranted to develop evidence-based strategies for these rare but clinically demanding infections.