Fungal Prosthetic Joint Infection: Causes, Risks, and Treatment Options

When a fungal prosthetic joint infection, a rare but serious infection caused by fungi like Candida or Aspergillus that settles into an artificial joint. Also known as prosthetic joint fungal infection, it can turn a successful surgery into a long, painful battle. Unlike bacterial infections, these fungal invaders are slow, sneaky, and often missed at first. They don’t cause redness or fever right away—instead, they creep in over months, causing mild pain, swelling, or loosening of the implant. People with weakened immune systems, long-term antibiotics, or multiple joint surgeries are most at risk.

These infections usually happen after a prosthetic joint infection, a complication where microbes colonize the artificial joint surface, but fungi are harder to detect than bacteria. Standard lab tests often come back negative because fungi grow slowly and need special cultures. Doctors may need to take fluid from around the joint, send tissue samples for fungal staining, or even remove part of the implant to confirm it. Once diagnosed, treatment isn’t simple. It usually means months of antifungal treatment, long-term medication like fluconazole, voriconazole, or amphotericin B to kill the fungus, sometimes combined with surgery to clean or replace the joint. Many patients need both—no single approach works alone.

What makes this worse is that fungal infections often show up after someone’s been on antibiotics for another issue—like a urinary tract infection or pneumonia. The drugs kill off good bacteria, letting fungi take over. Diabetics, people on steroids, or those who’ve had joint replacements years ago are also more vulnerable. It’s not common, but when it happens, it’s serious. Ignoring it can lead to chronic pain, bone damage, or even amputation in extreme cases.

You won’t find this in every doctor’s office. Most cases are handled by infectious disease specialists or orthopedic surgeons who’ve seen it before. That’s why knowing the signs matters—even if your pain is mild, if it’s been going on for months and nothing’s helping, ask about fungal causes. The posts below dive into real cases, diagnostic tricks, and how treatment choices vary depending on the fungus type, patient health, and implant material. Some stories show how early detection saved a joint. Others show what happens when it’s missed. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or just trying to understand the risks, this collection gives you the facts without the fluff.