Management of a multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected total knee arthroplasty using colistin. A case report and review of the literature

J Arthroplasty. 2007 Apr;22(3):457-63. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2006.05.006. Epub 2007 Jan 22.

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant infections present a serious clinical and therapeutical problem. Colistin is an old-used polymyxin with rather poor pharmacokinetic profile and a remarkable nephrotoxicity. However, the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria has recently led to the increased use of colistin as a potentially available therapy. This article presents a 75-year-old diabetic woman with an early onset total knee arthroplasty infection by a multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial isolate that was managed successfully with surgical removal of the knee prosthesis, antibiotic impregnated cement and intravenous administration of colistin for 6 weeks, and second stage revision knee surgery. Two years later, laboratory and imaging studies showed no evidence of recurrence of infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee*
  • Bone Cements
  • Colistin / administration & dosage
  • Colistin / therapeutic use*
  • Comorbidity
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial*
  • Female
  • Femoral Fractures / epidemiology
  • Femoral Fractures / surgery
  • Humans
  • Knee Prosthesis / adverse effects*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / drug therapy*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / epidemiology
  • Pseudomonas Infections / drug therapy*
  • Reoperation

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bone Cements
  • Colistin