The Incidence of Propionibacterium acnes in Open Shoulder Surgery: A Controlled Diagnostic Study

Conclusions: The clinical importance of positive P. acnes cultures from specimens obtained from open shoulder surgery remains uncertain. Male sex and preoperative corticosteroid injections were associated with a higher likelihood of bacterial growth on culture and are risk factors that merit further investigation. Previously reported incidences of positive P. acnes culture results from specimens from primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty may be overestimated because of a substantial level of culture contamination. Clinical Relevance: P. acnes is isolated via culture at a substantial rate from shoulders undergoing a deltopectoral approach. The clinical importance of culture growth by this low-virulence organism still remains uncertain. Further study is necessary to more specifically characterize culture growth by P. acnes as an infection, commensal presence, or contaminant.
Source: The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Tags: Infection, Shoulder Scientific Articles Source Type: research