Infection of a prosthetic knee joint with Clostridium bifermentans

We present the first reported case of prosthetic joint infection caused by Clostridium bifermentans, which was treated with total joint washout and debridement allowing for the patient to retain his prosthesis and achieve full recovery. Clostridium bifermentans is a gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium. This organism was once considered to be non-pathogenic, but has recently been associated with cases of septic arthritis, empyema, osteomyelitis, soft tissue infection, brain abscess, bacteremia and endocarditis.