Staphylococcus caprae Prosthetic Joint Infection Treated With Bacteriophage: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic joint infection results in significant morbidity and mortality, often requiring multiple surgeries in conjunction with antibiotic therapy. While component exchange is often successful, in many cases the patient is too ill to undergo surgery. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and are incredibly specific to their target, infecting bacterial cells without impact on the host. Success rates for treatment with bacteriophage approach 90%, but these treatments are not yet approved for widespread use. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 66-year-old male with a chronic prosthetic knee joint infection from Staphylococcus caprae treated with a combination of debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR), long-term antibiotics, and bacteriophage therapy, showing no recurrence and a significant reduction in pain at 2 years posttreatment. CONCLUSION: For recalcitrant prosthetic joint infections, treatment with bacteriophage as an adjuvant to care can drastically modify the clinical course.