Infection following total knee arthroplasty is a major cause of implan
t failure, with an incidence of infections between 1 and 12%. Although
there have been no previously reported cases of infection with Mycoba
cterium chelonae following total knee arthroplasty, this mycobacterium
appears to be a potential pathogen in arthroplasty. When infection fo
llowing total knee arthroplasty is evident but standard cultures come
back negative, atypical mycobacterium infection should be considered.
Mycobacterium chelonae does not grow in the normally allotted culture
time, so false negative results are common. Once identified, M. chelon
ae is difficult to treat because of its resistance to standard drug th
erapies. Details of the first reported successful diagnosis and treatm
ent of an infection with M. chelonae following a total knee arthroplas
ty are reported.