Invasive Propionibacterium acnes infections in a non-selective patient cohort: clinical manifestations, management and outcome

Abstract

An increasing number of reports suggest that Propionibacterium acnes can cause serious invasive infections. Currently, only limited data exist regarding the spectrum of invasive P. acnes infections. We conducted a non-selective cohort study at a tertiary hospital in the UK over a 9-year-period (2003-2012) investigating clinical manifestations, risk factors, management, and outcome of invasive P. acnes infections. Forty-nine cases were identified; the majority were neurosurgical infections and orthopaedic infections (n = 28 and n = 15 respectively). Only 2 cases had no predisposing factors; all neurosurgical and 93.3 % of orthopaedic cases had a history of previous surgery and/or trauma. Foreign material was in situ at the infection site in 59.3 % and 80.0 % of neurosurgical and orthopaedic cases respectively. All neurosurgical and orthopaedic cases required one or more surgical interventions to treat P. acnes infection, with or without concomitant antibiotic therapy; the duration of antibiotic therapy was significantly longer in the group of orthopaedic cases (median 53 vs 19 days; p = 0.0025). All tested P. acnes isolates were susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin and chloramphenicol; only 1 was clindamycin-resistant. Neurosurgical and orthopaedic infections account for the majority of invasive P. acnes infections. Most cases have predisposing factors, including previous surgery and/or trauma; spontaneous infections are rare. Foreign material is commonly present at the site of infection, indicating that the pathogenesis of invasive P. acnes infections likely involves biofilm formation. Since invasive P. acnes infections are associated with considerable morbidity, further studies are needed to establish effective prevention and optimal treatment strategies.

Propionibacterium acnes as an emerging pathogen in skull base osteomyelitis: A case series

“…A case series of P. acnes infections in patients with temporomandibular joint prostheses has also been reported within the field of otolaryngology, although the patients in that study presented with mild symptoms of infection rather than significant osteomyelitis . Vertebral osteomyelitis and other postoperative complications have also been reported as an emerging problem in patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures . None of the patients in our series had implants, although some previously had dental extractions or biopsies.…”

“…11 Vertebral osteomyelitis and other postoperative complications have also been reported as an emerging problem in patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures. 12,13 None of the patients in our series had implants, although some previously had dental extractions or biopsies. Some studies have theorized that glove contamination is responsible for introducing P. acnes into surgical sites.…”

De novoPropionibacterium acnesseptic arthritis

“…Postoperative P. acnes infections may be increasing 5. De novo P. acnes septic arthritis appears to be exceedingly rare, with only two cases identifiable in the English language literature 3 7. We report a third such case in which this organism, in contrast with previous reports, has caused aggressive joint destruction.…”

“…We identify one other report of de novo P. acnes septic arthritis excluding that by Tebruegge et al 3. Yocum et al 7 describe a 71-year-old man with sequential polyarthritis affecting his hands then the left hip, knee and ankle over 2 weeks.…”

“…Tebruegge et al 3 analysed 49 patients with P. acnes infections. Neurosurgical patients represented the majority (28 cases) followed by orthopaedic patients (15 cases).…”