Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

An In Vitro Bladder Model of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection
07:57

An In Vitro Bladder Model of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection

Published on: June 24, 2025

Propionibacterium acnes is a common colonizer of intravascular catheters

Pablo Martín-Rabadán1, Paloma Gijón, Luis Alcalá

  • 1Servicio de Microbiología y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Calle Doctor Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain. pmartinra.hgugm@salud.madrid.org

The Journal of Infection
|March 14, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Anaerobic processing is crucial for detecting Propionibacterium spp. on vascular catheters. This common skin bacterium, Propionibacterium acnes, is often missed, impacting infection diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Propionibacterium spp. are common human skin flora.
  • Current culture methods for vascular catheters often lack anaerobic processing.
  • This omission can lead to the underdetection of Propionibacterium spp. colonization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of Propionibacterium spp. colonization on vascular catheters.
  • To highlight the impact of anaerobic incubation on detecting these organisms.

Main Methods:

  • A total of 1000 vascular catheters were analyzed.
  • The roll-plate technique was employed for sample processing.
  • Cultures underwent both conventional aerobic and subsequent anaerobic incubation.

Main Results:

  • Propionibacterium acnes was detected in significant counts in 39 patients (14.7% of positive catheters).
  • Propionibacterium spp. were identified as the second most frequent colonizing genus after Staphylococcus spp.
  • Inadequate detection methods may hinder the recognition of P. acnes in catheter-related infections.

Conclusions:

  • Standard aerobic culture methods are insufficient for detecting Propionibacterium spp. on catheters.
  • Implementing anaerobic processing is essential for accurate identification.
  • Improved detection methods are needed to correctly attribute P. acnes as a cause of catheter infections.

More Related Videos

Porphyromonas gingivalis as a Model Organism for Assessing Interaction of Anaerobic Bacteria with Host Cells12:16

Porphyromonas gingivalis as a Model Organism for Assessing Interaction of Anaerobic Bacteria with Host Cells

Published on: December 17, 2015

A Catheter-Related Candida albicans Infection Model in Mouse03:24

A Catheter-Related Candida albicans Infection Model in Mouse

Published on: March 22, 2024

Related Concept Videos

The Skin Microbiota01:27

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...
Acne Infection01:27

Acne Infection

Acne is a multifactorial skin condition primarily affecting adolescents and young adults, with a global prevalence estimated to exceed 75% in this demographic. The condition is characterized by the formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules, pustules, nodules, and, in severe cases, cysts, particularly in areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the face, neck, chest, and back. The pathogenesis involves increased sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, colonization by...
Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria01:30

Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria

Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic01:26

Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur in a healthcare facility while a person receives care for another ailment. This category also includes work-related infections among healthcare staff.
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies. Common...