A Hip Prosthesis Infected with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Tuberculosis infection of joint prostheses remains a rare but serious complication, often underdiagnosed due to its nonspecific clinical presentation. We report a rare case of a 55-year-old man with a total hip prosthesis implanted in 2017, admitted for impairment and instability of the left lower limb. Imaging revealed loosening of the acetabular implant. Bacteriological analysis of a deep sample, although negative on conventional staining, identified Mycobacterium tuberculosis by the molecular GeneXpert test, confirmed by culture. The patient was treated medically without initial prosthesis removal, with a favorable outcome. This case highlights the importance of considering a tuberculous etiology in any atypical prosthetic infection, especially in endemic areas, and the central role of molecular diagnosis in early management.