Desert Captain your story is all too common. In our family it was an aunt who had had both knees replaced, but the first one got infected.
Unfortunately hers was a silent infection that showed up 10 months after the surgery as a rash on her arm, the next day she was in ICU. Luckily Mum had stopped by to see her and saw her collapse and got her to hospital.
She too was told they would have to remove the knee, but they were able to clean it out and leave it in. She was on IV antibiotics for months after, but made a full recovery.
It is unfortunate that none of the health professionals you were seeing thought to do a simple blood test to check your white blood count.
I wish you a speedy recovery and you and your wife good enough health to have a future trip.
