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. 2017:3:32.
doi: 10.1051/sicotj/2017017. Epub 2017 Apr 11.

Prosthetic joint and implant contamination caused by Ralstonia pickettii: a report of three cases٭

Brett D Edwards  1 , Ranjani Somayaji  2 , Bayan Missaghi  2 , Wilson W Chan  3 , Aaron J Bois  4
Affiliations

Prosthetic joint and implant contamination caused by Ralstonia pickettii: a report of three cases٭

Brett D Edwards et al. SICOT J. 2017.

Abstract

We describe three cases of orthopaedic contamination caused by Ralstonia pickettii grown from prosthetic joint and implant material cultures following sonication in the microbiology laboratory. Given the temporal association between the cases, lack of clinical or intra-operative features of infection, growth of the organism in the water bath, and unlikely etiology of Ralstonia as a prosthetic joint or implant pathogen, the bacteria were judged to be contaminants.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Ultrasonicator device used to disrupt bacterial biofilm on prosthetic and implant devices. The prosthetic device is placed in a container filled with saline and then placed in this waterbath where ultrasound waves are directed at it.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Gram stain of Ralstonia pickettii under light microscopy.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
True AP view of the left shoulder approximately 15 months from undergoing revision ORIF and bone grafting of a surgical neck nonunion of the proximal humerus. There is evidence of early hardware failure (screw pullout), graft resorption, and persistent nonunion of the surgical neck.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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