title: Oerskovia xanthineolytica infection of a prosthetic joint: case report and review.
abstract: Oerskovia spp. are gram-positive, Nocardia-like bacilli which inhabit the soil and rarely cause human infections. Previously reported cases of Oerskovia infection have been characterized by a nonaggressive course and an association with foreign bodies. We report the first case of a patient with a prosthetic joint infection due to Oerskovia xanthineolytica. Our patient presented with a prolonged, indolent course and was thought to have aseptic loosening of his prosthesis until the time of surgery. He was cured of his infection by removal of the prosthesis, antibiotic therapy, and delayed reimplantation. Review of the previous 10 reported cases of Oerskovia infection in humans supports the recommendation that foreign-body-associated infections should be treated with a strategy that includes removal of the foreign material.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA. harrington@sun.uchc.edu
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aslanzadeh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stelmach
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Woolfrey
mesh_terms: D000192:Actinomycetales / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D012086:Reoperation
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents