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Genetic homogeneity/heterogeneity of Propionibacterium acnes isolated from patients during cardiothoracic reoperation

Magnus Unemo1, Orjan Friberg, Emma Enquist

  • 1Department of Clinical Microbiology, Orebro University Hospital, SE-701 85 Orebro, Sweden. magnus.unemo@orebroll.se

Anaerobe
|May 22, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Propionibacterium acnes may frequently cause deep sternal wound infections after cardiothoracic surgery. This study used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to show diverse P. acnes strains in patient infections.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Surgical Infections

Background:

  • Deep sternal wound infection (SWI) is a severe complication following cardiothoracic surgery.
  • Propionibacterium acnes is increasingly suspected as a causative agent of SWI.
  • Distinguishing pathogenic P. acnes from skin commensals in clinical samples is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and optimize a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) protocol for P. acnes.
  • To investigate the genetic diversity of P. acnes isolates from SWI patients.
  • To determine the clonal relationships of P. acnes in multiple tissue samples from patients.

Main Methods:

  • Optimized pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) protocol for Propionibacterium acnes.
  • Analysis of 54 P. acnes isolates from multiple tissue samples of 12 patients.
  • Genetic typing of isolates to assess clonal relatedness and heterogeneity.

Main Results:

  • Identified 24 distinct PFGE fingerprints among the P. acnes isolates.
  • 42% of patients harbored presumably clonally related P. acnes isolates.
  • Multiple P. acnes clones were found in 7 patients, often in multiple samples.

Conclusions:

  • Propionibacterium acnes is a potentially frequent cause of postoperative cardiothoracic infections.
  • This study demonstrates the existence of clonally related P. acnes isolates in deep SWI.
  • PFGE is a valuable tool for elucidating the epidemiology of P. acnes in surgical site infections.

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