Case report: first report of a prosthetic joint infection caused by Facklamia hominis

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2014 Dec;80(4):338-40. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2014.08.008. Epub 2014 Aug 30.

Abstract

Facklamia spp. are gram-positive cocci first described in 1997. They are α-hemolytic, facultative anaerobes, catalase-negative cocci, resembling viridians streptococci on 5% sheep blood agar. Facklamia hominis is, by far, the most common species of the 6 so far described, and it is thought that its natural habitat is the female genital tract. Four previous human infections with Facklamia spp. have been documented. We report the first case of a chronic prosthetic joint infection caused by F. hominis and its successful treatment by a 2-stage exchange procedure to eradicate the infection. This is also the first osteoarticular infection reported. The clinical implications are discussed.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Facklamia hominis; Periprosthetic joint infection; Two-stage replacement.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amoxicillin / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip
  • Erythromycin / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
  • Gram-Positive Cocci / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Cocci / pathogenicity*
  • Humans
  • Joint Prosthesis / adverse effects*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / drug therapy
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / microbiology*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / surgery
  • Tetracycline / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Erythromycin
  • Amoxicillin
  • Tetracycline