Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Bronchopneumonia caused byPropionibacterium acnes

  • Notes
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Propionibacterium acnes was identified as the pathogen in a case of subacute lung infection by examination of an open lung biopsy specimen. The patient was a 65-year-old male with exacerbation of chronic lung disease. The organism was isolated in pure culture and was present in large numbers on Gram stain. Histological examination demonstrated active interstitial fibrosis; macrophages laden withPropionibacterium acnes antigen were revealed using a peroxidase-antiperoxidase stain. This is the first report of subacute infection of pulmonary tissue due to this organism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kligman AM: An overview of acne. Journal of Investigational Dermatology 1974, 62: 268–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Schlesinger JJ, Ross AL:Propionibacterium acnes meningitis in a previously normal adult. Archives of Internal Medicine 1977, 137: 921–923.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Brook I, Frazier EH: Infections caused byPropionibacterium acnes. Reviews of Infectious Diseases 1991, 13, 819–822.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Posenauer B, Funk J: Chronic postoperative endophtalmitis caused byPropionibacterium acnes. European Journal of Ophtalmology 1992, 2: 94–97.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Richard J, Ingham HR, Crawford PJ, Sengupta RP, Mendelow AD: Focal infections of the central nervous system due toPropionibacterium acnes. Journal of Infection 1989, 18: 279–282.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Haslett TM, Isenberg HD, Hilton E: Microbiology of indwelling central catheters. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1981, 26: 697–701.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Felner JM, Dowell VR: Anaerobic bacterial endocarditis. New England Journal of Medicine 1970, 283: 1188–1192.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Schwarz DA, Finkelstein SD:Propionibacterium acnes cerebral botryomycosis. The role of plastic embedding in the diagnosis of grain-producing infections. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 1986, 82: 682–685.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Brown RC, Hopps HC: Staining of bacteria in tissue sections: a reliable Gram stain method. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 1973, 59: 234–240.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Cummins CS, Johnson JL:Corynebacterium parvum: a synonym forPropionibacterium acnes. Journal of General Microbiology 1974, 80, 433–442.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. White RG: The macrophage-stimulating properties of a variety of anaerobic coryneforms. In: Alpern B:Corynebacterium parvum. Applications in experimental and clinical oncology (ed): Plenum Press, New York, 1975, p. 148–161.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Cummins CS, Stimpson SA, Tuttle RL, Weck CJ: Observations on the nature of the determinants in anaerobic coryneforms which produce splenomegaly. Journal of the Reticuloendothelial Society 1981, 29: 1–13.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Tuttle RL, North RJ: Mechanisms of antitumor action ofC. parvum: nonspecific tumor cell destruction at site of an immunologically mediated sensitivity reaction toC. parvum. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1975, 55: 1403–1409.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Pringle AT, Cummins CS, Bishop BF, Viers VS: Fate of vaccines ofPropionibacterium acnes after phagocytosis by murine macrophages. Infection and Immunity 1982, 38: 371–374.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Webster GF, Leyden JJ, Musson RA, Douglas SD: Susceptibility ofPropionibacterium acnes to killing and degradation by human neutrophils and monocytes in vitro. Infection and Immunity 1985, 49: 116–121.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Pringle AT, Cummins CS: Relationship between cell wall synthesis inPropionibacterium acnes and ability to stimulate the reticuloendothelial system. Infection and Immunity 1982, 35: 734–737.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. French RS, Ziter FA, Spruance SL: Chronic meningitis caused byPropionibacterium acnes. Neurology 1974, 24: 624–628.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Schlossberg D, Keeney GE, Lifton LJ, Azizhkan RG: Anaerobic botryomycosis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1980, 11: 184–185.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Bannister AB, Edwards S, Ibata G: Aetiology of Kawasaki disease. Archives of Diseases in Children 1989, 64: 397–398.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kato H, Inoue O, Koga Y, Shinghu M, Fujimoto T: Variant strain ofPropionibacterium acnes: a clue to the aetiology of Kawasaki disease. Lancet 1983, ii: 1383–1387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Abe C, Iwai K, Mikami R, Hosoda Y: Frequent isolation ofPropionibacterium acnes from sarcoidosis lymph nodes. Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie und Hygiene A 1984, 256: 541–547.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Stewart SM, McBride WH: Mycoplasms and ‘diphtheroids’ in rheumatic arthritis. Rheumatology 1975, 6: 329–333.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Claeys, G., Verschraegen, G., De Potter, C. et al. Bronchopneumonia caused byPropionibacterium acnes . Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 13, 747–749 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02276058

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02276058

Keywords

Navigation