Molecular identification of a Dietzia maris hip prosthesis infection isolate

Dietzia maris, an environmental actinomycete, has been implicated only once in human disease. We herein report the first D. maris isolate from a bone biopsy specimen in a patient hospitalized for a total hip prosthesis replac ement. Cell wall fatty acid analysis and 16S ribosomal DNA gene sequencing were utilized to achieve its definite identification. This case report illu strates the usefulness of such methods for the accurate identification of a ctinomycetes.