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Propionibacterium acnes as a cause of prosthetic valve aortic root abscess

Federico Hinestrosa1, Svetolik Djurkovic, Paul P Bourbeau

  • 1Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA 17822-0131, USA.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|October 27, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Propionibacterium acnes, typically low virulence, can cause severe infections. This case highlights P. acnes bacteremia leading to prosthetic valve endocarditis and aortic root abscess.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cardiology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is often considered a skin commensal with low pathogenicity.
  • P. acnes isolates from blood and tissue cultures are frequently dismissed as contaminants due to their perceived low virulence.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with late prosthetic valve endocarditis.
  • The endocarditis was complicated by the development of an aortic root abscess.

Findings:

  • Blood cultures revealed Propionibacterium acnes bacteremia.
  • This indicates a severe systemic infection caused by P. acnes.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the potential for P. acnes to cause serious, invasive infections, including endocarditis.
  • Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for P. acnes in cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis, even when isolates are initially considered contaminants.

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