PERIPROSTHETIC KNEE INFECTION CAUSED BY RALSTONIA PICKETTII LEADING TO KNEE ARTHRODESIS: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Periprosthetic knee infection is a serious complication of total knee replacement, connected to the formation of microbial biofilm on the surface of the implant. The most common bacteria causing periprosthetic infections are: Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staphylococci and Gram negative bacteria. The purpose of this study is to present a rare case of periprosthetic knee infection caused by Ralstonia pickettii, which ultimately resulted in knee arthrodesis.A 70 years old patient was referred to our clinic because of persistent pain, swelling and fistula in his left knee, 18 months after total knee arthroplasty. The patient had received oral ciprofloxacin and rifampicin during the last three months. The cultures of the fistula and knee aspiration were negative. A 2-stages revision of the total knee arthroplasty was decided. The patient underwent surgical removal of the prosthesis, cement and suspicious tissues and a spacer was placed. Samples from periprosthetic tissues were sent for conventiona...