Surgical wound infections due to Propionibacterium acnes: a study of 10 cases.
Ten cases of surgical wound infection in which Propionibacterium acnes was probably the aetiologic agent were reviewed; in five the organism was isolated in pure culture. Six patients underwent a neurosurgical procedure. The average time for development of infection was 17.5 days (range 1-30 days). All patients were cured by surgical drainage and, in nine cases, with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. In conclusion, P. acnes must be considered as a cause of surgical wound infections especially after neurosurgery.
Department of Medical Microbiology, Fundación Fimenez Diaz, Universidad Autonoma, Madrid, Spain.
J
J
Esteban
J M
JM
Ramos
P
P
Jimenez-Castillo
F
F
Soriano
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology*