Debridement, Antibiotics, and Implant Retention for a Rare Serratia marcescens Infection after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, Serratia marcescens was reported to cause nosocomial infections.

CASE REPORT: In this study, we report a case of S. marcescens infection occurring after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in a 72-year-old woman. The patient had undergone TKA for knee osteoarthritis. She had a past medical history of diabetes mellitus, for which she was receiving cefazolin sodium. Six days after surgery, redness and effusion were observed in the wound, and post-operative infection was suspected. Thus, the patient was treated with linezolid, clindamycin, and tazobactam/piperacillin hydrate post-operatively. Twelve days after TKA, reinfection was suspected; hence, washing and debridement were repeated.

CONCLUSION: In this case, remission of S. marcescens infection was achieved without the need to remove the implant by cleaning, debridement, and the use of sensitive antimicrobial agents.