Propionibacterium acnes postoperative shoulder arthritis: an emerging clinical entity

Clin Infect Dis. 2008 Jun 15;46(12):1884-6. doi: 10.1086/588477.

Abstract

The purpose of this study, which involved 276 patients, was to report the importance of Propionibacterium acnes in shoulder infections. The proportion of patients with shoulder infection who had infection due to P. acnes was significantly greater than the proportion of patients with lower limb infection who had infection due to P. acnes (9 of 16 patients vs. 1 of 233 patients; P < .001). This bacterium requires a prolonged incubation period and should not be considered to be a contaminant.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Arthritis / microbiology*
  • Female
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Lower Extremity / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications / microbiology*
  • Propionibacterium acnes / isolation & purification*
  • Shoulder Joint / microbiology*