title: Propionibacterium acnes brain abscess appearing 10 years after neurosurgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a case of Propionibacterium acnes infection arising 10 years after neurosurgery and to review the literature regarding similar cases and their treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 70-year-old man with an intracerebral abscess and 2 biopsies culture positive for P acnes 10 years after subdural hematoma evacuation. Intervention Surgical biopsy followed by 6 weeks of intravenous vancomycin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Magnetic resonance imaging, neurologic examination, and microbiology culture results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biopsies obtained from abscesses grew only P acnes. Magnetic resonance imaging and serial neurological examinations showed marked improvement after 6 weeks of intravenous vancomycin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infection by P acnes can complicate neurosurgical procedures as late as 10 years after surgery and therefore should be considered in the evaluation of patients presenting with neurologic signs and symptoms with a history of neurosurgery.
authors.affiliation: Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Department of Neurology, 3 W Gates, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. sarah.kranick@uphs.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kranick
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vinnard
authors.forename: Dennis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kolson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013995:Time; D013997:Time Factors; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin