Postoperative Mycoplasma hominis infection after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: A case report

Application of next-generation sequencing on diagnosis of bloodstream infection caused by Mycoplasma hominis in a patient with ANCA-associated vasculitis

BACKGROUND

Mycoplasma hominis is one of the main opportunistic pathogenic mycoplasmas in humans which has a major impact on patients with bloodstream infections. Because it is difficult to detect or isolate, rapid and accurate diagnosis using improved methods is essential and still challenging for patients with bloodstream infection.

CASE PRESENTATION

In this case, we reported the application of next -generation sequencing for the diagnosis of bloodstream infection caused by Mycoplasma hominis in a patient with Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. After 9 days of combined treatment with levofloxacin, polymyxin B and meropenem, the patient's condition was gradually controlled and he was discharged without further complications. During the three-month outpatient follow-up, no recurrence of symptoms or clinical signs was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

This successful application of next generation sequencing assisted the rapid diagnosis of Mycoplasma hominis bloodstream infection, provided a new perspective in the clinical approach and highlighted the potential of this technique in rapid etiological diagnosis.

Infection due to Mycoplasma hominis after left hip replacement: case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Hip replacement is generally conducted in those with prolonged arthritis pain or hip fractures, and postoperative infection is a serious complication. Mycoplasma hominis, belonging to mycoplasma species, exists mainly in the genitourinary tract. M. hominis infection after total hip replacement was rarely documented in literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 59-year-old male was febrile after left total hip replacement. Empiric therapy with cefepime for suspected infection was ineffective. Specimens at the infection site were collected for culture, and pinpoint colonies grew after incubation at 35 °C for 48 h on blood agar plate. They grew to approximately 0.5 mm colonies in diameter after 7-day incubation, and were identified as M. hominis. Sequentially, combination therapy with clindamycin hydrochloride and moxifloxacin was initiated, and the patient defervesced within 3 days and was discharged home.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlighted the potential pathogenicity of M. hominis in postoperative infection. The possibility of this microorganism involvement should be valued if the patients who experienced the hip or joint replacement had inexplicable fever.