INTRODUCTION: Propionibacterium acnes is an anaerobic germ, usually found as a saprophyte of the skin and the mucosa. It may be responsible for iatrogenic or spontaneous osteoarhritis. EXEGESIS: We report two new cases of septic arthritis induced by P. acnes: a case of iatrogenic spondylodiscitis and a case of spontaneous septic arthritis of the lumbar facet joints. The two patients were immunocompetent, without acne. CONCLUSION: Except for patients with criteria of the SAPHO syndrome (synovitis-acne-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteomyelitis), osteoarthritis caused by P. acnes is increasingly described. The number of these infections is probably underestimated because of the technical problems involved in isolating P. acnes in the laboratory.
INTRODUCTION:Propionibacterium acnes is an anaerobic germ, usually found as a saprophyte of the skin and the mucosa. It may be responsible for iatrogenic or spontaneous osteoarhritis. EXEGESIS: We report two new cases of septic arthritis induced by P. acnes: a case of iatrogenic spondylodiscitis and a case of spontaneous septic arthritis of the lumbar facet joints. The two patients were immunocompetent, without acne. CONCLUSION: Except for patients with criteria of the SAPHO syndrome (synovitis-acne-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteomyelitis), osteoarthritis caused by P. acnes is increasingly described. The number of these infections is probably underestimated because of the technical problems involved in isolating P. acnes in the laboratory.
Authors: M-F Lutz; P Berthelot; A Fresard; C Cazorla; A Carricajo; A-C Vautrin; M-H Fessy; F Lucht Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2005-11 Impact factor: 3.267