Leptospirosis mimicking sepsis after orthopedic surgery: a case report

Abstract

We report a case of leptospirosis that occurred after elective surgery involving tendon transfer and shoulder arthroscopy. The disease mimicked hospital infection after orthopedic surgery and was at first misdiagnosed as post-operative sepsis. The patient was 60 year old female that developed sepsis with hypotension, shock, bleeding, jaundice and renal insufficiency 4 hours after surgery. Shock treatment procedures were performed and broad spectrum antibiotic therapy was used with coverage for bacteria acquired in hospitals. A careful investigation was carried out by the Hospital Infection Control Service in search of the possible source of the infection. After clinical evaluation by a specialist in infectious diseases, the hypothesis of leptospirosis was put forward based on clinical and epidemiological data. The hypothesis was later confirmed by the positive result of serological tests with the microagglutination method that yielded 1:800 and then 1:12,600 7 days later. This is the first reported case of leptospirosis manifest directly following surgery, mimicking postoperative sepsis.