Septic Obturation of a Knee Endoprosthesis Caused by <i>Aspergillus clavatus</i>

<i>Aspergillus clavatus</i> is a rare opportunistic fungal pathogen that can be isolated from various environmental sources, including soil and animal feces. Although infrequent, infections caused by <i>A. clavatus</i> can be severe in immunocompromised patients. Here, we pre...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Robert Kuthan, Gabriel Lawrence Zaremba-Wróblewski, Flynn Ott, Dorsa Soltaninia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-10-01
Series:Pathogens
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/10/1270
Description
Summary:<i>Aspergillus clavatus</i> is a rare opportunistic fungal pathogen that can be isolated from various environmental sources, including soil and animal feces. Although infrequent, infections caused by <i>A. clavatus</i> can be severe in immunocompromised patients. Here, we present a case of a prosthetic joint infection (PJI) in a 74-year-old female patient caused by <i>A. clavatus</i>. The patient presented with left knee pain, and septic loosening of the left knee endoprosthesis was diagnosed. She underwent surgical revision with the implantation of an antibiotic spacer and microbiologic testing. The results came back positive for both <i>Staphylococcus lugdunensis</i> and <i>A. clavatus</i> (which is found in only a fraction of a percent of PJIs). She was treated with oral antimicrobials for 3 months postoperatively. This case report vividly illustrates a clinical scenario that underscores the significance of rigorous microbiologic testing procedures, accurate pathogen identification, unwavering vigilance in testing protocols, and a cautious approach that avoids succumbing to the seductive simplicity of Occam’s razor.
ISSN:2076-0817