Unusual Salmonella typhi periprosthetic joint infection involving bilateral knees: management options and literature review

A 70-year-old Indian woman, who had undergone primary bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for rheumatoid arthritis 10 months prior, presented with 10 days history of pain, swelling and erythema over both knees with pus discharging from the right knee. She had type 2 diabetes mellitus and was on long-term steroid, leflunomide and antitumour necrosis factor therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Her clinical and laboratory features were suggestive of a haematogenous periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). The final diagnosis of bilateral Salmonella typhi PJI was made based on culture reports. Considering her underlying immunosuppression, a bilateral two-stage revision TKA was done with complete remission of symptoms and good functional recovery at last follow-up after 18 months. S. typhi infection of prosthetic joint has not been reported in the literature. Patients presenting with gastrointestinal complaints and PJI should alert the clinician to the possibility of infection with such atypical organisms endemic to the region.

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