Abstract
Introduction: Cutibacterium acnes is a recognized culprit for implant-associated infections, but positive cultures do not always indicate clinically relevant infection. Studies have shown a correlation between the β-hemolytic phenotype of C. acnes and its infectious capacity, but correlation with genetic phylotype has not been performed in literature. The purpose of this study is to evaluate β-hemolysis phenotype, genetic phylotype, and mid-term clinical outcomes of C. acnes isolated from orthopedic surgical sites. Methods: Fifty-four C. acnes isolates previously obtained from surgical wounds of patients undergoing hip, knee, shoulder, or spine implant removal were re-cultured. There were 21 females and 33 males with an average age of 59 years (range, 18–84). Twenty-four were from clinically infected sites whereas 30 were considered contaminants. De novo β-hemolysis was analyzed and a retrospective chart review was performed to evaluate clinical outcomes at 7.1 years (range, 0.1–12.8). Results: On Brucella agar with 5% rabbit blood, 46% of contaminant and 43% of infectious isolates were hemolytic. Type II phylotype was significantly more nonhemolytic regardless of infectious or contaminant status (p < 0.05). Type 1B correlated with a hemolytic-infectious phenotype and Type 1A with a hemolytic-contaminant phenotype but was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The β-hemolytic profile of C. acnes did not correlate with phylotype or clinically relevant orthopedic infection.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 390-398 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Shoulder and Elbow |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2020 |
Keywords
- Cutibacterium acnes
- Propionibacterium acnes
- hemolytic phenotype
- infection
- periprosthetic joint infection
- phylotype
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation