The Complicated Case of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia Associated With Delayed-Onset Prosthetic Joint Infection: A Case Report and Review of Management Strategies

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), an opportunistic Gram-positive bacterium, is notorious for causing a plethora of clinical diseases. While it does not typically infect healthy skin, S. aureus infections are prevalent in both community-acquired and hospital-acquired settings. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation and progressive bone erosion, can be managed medically and, in moderate to severe cases, surgically through arthroplasty. Complications of arthroplasty include wound infection, blood clots, stiffness, and infection around the prosthesis. Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are a rare complication of arthroplasty, commonly caused by aerobic Gram-positive bacteria. These infections can lead to bacteremia, precipitating a cascade of adverse clinical sequelae. This report aims to explore the etiology of delayed-onset PJIs, the underlying pathophysiology of this condition leading to bacteremia, the complications of S. aureus bacteremia, and the management strategies employed to treat PJIs and complicated cases of S. aureus bacteremia resulting from PJIs.