ACINETOBACTER INFECTION DEVELOPED AFTER LEECH THERAPY IN A PATIENT WITH GONARTHROSIS: A CASE REPORT

Osteoarthritis is the main cause of pain and loss of function in elderly patients. Various treatments are available to control pain and to prevent progression of the disease. In our country, some patients who do not benefit from these therapies or cannot access certain treatments readily undergo hirudotherapy (leech therapy), which is regarded to be beneficial in rheumatic diseases. In this case report, 68-year-old woman who had been receiving medical treatments and physical therapy for osteoarthritis for 15 years was presented.. She had been undergoing hirudotherapy for 6 years due to intractable pain in both knees. Following hirudotherapy, she developed a severe skin infection due to Acinetobacter sp. To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first case of infection with Acinetobacter following hirudotherapy.