Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 1B case report: an unusual pathogen in an osteoarticular infection on device

Abstract

Abstract Background Yersinia enterocolitica is an aero-anaerobic Gram-negative coccobacilli of the Enterobacteriaceae family, rarely reported in osteoarticular infection. Case presentation This report case described a rare septic osteoarticular infection on device due to Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 1B. A purulent fistula appeared after osteosynthesis with plate performed abroad 27 days prior to the presentation for a distal femoral fracture. The treatment consisted of surgical irrigation and washing of the femoral plate and a bitherapy by levoflaxacine and ceftriaxone during 3 months. Conclusion Y. enterocolitica biotype 1B is extremely rare in France. Moreover, the strain implicated in this european case is extremely close from the USA reference strain (with only 2 SNP difference) described in a septicemia in Ohio. The extreme proximity of the strains underlines the need for a sustained surveillance of the spread of this pathogen in France.

Keywords

• Yersinia enterocolitica
• Prosthetic device
• Osteoarticular infection
• Biotype 1B