Mycobacterium bovid infection of total knee arthroplasty after bacille Calmette-Guérin therapy for bladder cancer

Abstract

We present a case of Mycobacterium bovis infection of a total knee arthroplasty. This infection developed after use of bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy used to treat superficial bladder cancer. The patient presented with joint stiffness. Radiographs and inflammatory markers were normal. Six weeks after arthroscopy for synovectomy and biopsy, cultures showed M bovis infection of the knee joint. The patient was switched to antitubercular chemotherapy treatment, which resulted in the successful retention of implants. Seven and a half years later, the patient is symptom-free with high function in the joint. To our knowledge, this is the first time that this type of joint infection did not lead to removal.