Abstract
The purpose of this study was to show the significance of a positive Propionibacterium acnes sample around a joint replacement. Records from the microbiology laboratory data over a 3-year period were reviewed to identify patients with prosthetic joints from whom Propionibacterium acnes was isolated at least once. The medical records of all those patients were retrieved and the demographic, clinical, microbiological and haematological data were collected and examined. The preoperative values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were recorded. Fifty patients underwent a routine revision of a joint arthroplasty; six patients had a joint aspiration. Only one patient had further revision surgery for infection. The preoperative values of ESR and CRP were very variable. The presence of a positive sample around a joint arthroplasty is of uncertain significance. Further studies are needed in order to establish uniform criteria for the diagnosis of infection caused by Propionibacterium acnes.
Résumé
Le propos de cette étude était de montrer l’importance de la présence autour d’une prothèse articulaire de propionibactério acnes. L’étude des données d’un laboratoire de microbiologie sur une période de trois ans a permis d’identifier les patients porteurs de prothèses articulaires et pour lesquels la propionibactério acnes a été isolée au moins une fois. Les données médicales de ces patients mais aussi les données cliniques, microbiologiques, hématologiques ont été collectées et examinées de même que les valeurs pré-opératoires de la CRP et de l’ESR. 50 patients ont été revus, six avaient nécessité une aspiration articulaire et un une révision chirurgicale pour infection. Les valeurs préopératoires de l’ESR et de la CRP sont variables. La présence autour d’une articulation de propionibactério acnes a une signification très incertaine. Il sera nécessaire de pratiquer des études ultérieures de façon à établir les critères du diagnostic d’une infection secondaire à propionibactério acnes.
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Dramis, A., Aldlyami, E., Grimer, R.J. et al. What is the significance of a positive Propionibacterium acnes culture around a joint replacement?. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 33, 829–833 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-008-0534-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-008-0534-y