Mycobacterium fortuitum group periprosthetic joint infection

Abstract

The Mycobacterium fortuitum group of rapidly growing mycobacteria is recognized infrequently as a cause of periprosthetic joint infection. This report describes a case of periprosthetic joint infection due to a member of the M. fortuitum group where failure to consider this pathogen caused months of diagnostic delay. Aggressive surgery and 6 months of combination antimicrobial therapy eradicated the infection.