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Hip periprosthetic joint infection due to Coxiella burnetii in an adult male
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Hip periprosthetic joint infection due to Coxiella burnetii in an adult male

Ian Kidder, Takaaki Kobayashi, Bradley Ford and Poorani Sekar
IDCases, Vol.31, p.e01661
12/20/2022
DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2022.e01661
PMCID: PMC9803808
PMID: 36593892
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idcr.2022.e01661View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium. “Query fever” (Q fever) first described in 1939 is a disease caused by Coxiella burnetii . This bacterium infects animals including goats, sheep, and cattle, and has been recognized as a pathogen causing acute illness in humans. A patient living on a farm with a history of a right total hip arthroplasty presented with right hip pain. Arthrocentesis revealed a total nucleated count of 4288 (93% neutrophils), however his synovial fluid culture remained negative. His Q fever phase I IgG and phase II IgG were elevated at 1:4096 and 1:2048, respectively. He underwent incision and drainage with exchange of the femoral head and acetabular component, with retention of the femoral stem. PCR of tissue samples returned positive for Coxiella burnettii . He was diagnosed with a persistent localized prosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the right hip. Coxiella burnetii PJI is a rare but increasingly recognized form of persistent localized Q fever infection. Q fever should be considered in the differential diagnosis of culture-negative PJI, especially among patients with exposure to sheep, goats, or cattle. Initial screening for Coxiella burnetii includes serology, but tissue PCR and immunohistochemical staining may be obtained to confirm joint infection . • Coxiella prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a rare but increasingly recognized form of persistent localized Q fever. • Q fever should be considered in the differential diagnosis of culture negative PJI. • Synovial tissue PCR can Coxiella PJI and submission of multiple samples can increase diagnostic sensitivity. • Treatment of Coxiella PJI includes prolonged doxycycline in combination with hydroxychloroquine.
Case Report Coxiella burnetii Prosthetic joint infection Q fever

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