Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

A Zebrafish Embryo Model for In Vivo Visualization and Intravital Analysis of Biomaterial-associated Staphylococcus aureus Infection
10:04

A Zebrafish Embryo Model for In Vivo Visualization and Intravital Analysis of Biomaterial-associated Staphylococcus aureus Infection

Published on: January 7, 2019

Species of Propionibacterium and Propionibacterium acnes phylotypes associated with orthopedic implants

Marta Fernandez Sampedro1, Kerryl E Piper, Andrew McDowell

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease
|June 10, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is frequently found on orthopedic implants. This study found no clear link between P. acnes types I and II and implant infection, though type IB was more common in infected prostheses.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Propionibacterium species are frequently isolated from orthopedic implants.
  • Distinguishing between pathogenic and colonizing Propionibacterium is clinically important.
  • Propionibacterium acnes is the most common species found in these settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify Propionibacterium species and phylotypes from removed orthopedic implants.
  • To correlate P. acnes phylotypes with the presence or absence of orthopedic implant infection.
  • To determine if specific P. acnes phylotypes are associated with infection versus colonization.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective trial involving the analysis of removed orthopedic implants.
  • Isolation and identification of Propionibacterium species from implant surfaces.
  • Phylogenetic typing of Propionibacterium acnes isolates into types IA, IB, II, and III.
  • Correlation of identified phylotypes with clinical data on infection status.

Main Results:

  • Propionibacterium acnes was the predominant species isolated (61 out of 62 isolates).
  • P. acnes type I (62%) was more common than type II (38%), irrespective of infection status.
  • No significant association was found between P. acnes types I and II and orthopedic implant infection or colonization (P = 0.75).
  • P. acnes type IB strains were isolated more frequently from infected prostheses compared to type IA.

Conclusions:

  • Phylogenetic typing of P. acnes (types I and II) does not reliably differentiate between infection and colonization of orthopedic implants.
  • While not definitive, a higher prevalence of P. acnes type IB in infected implants warrants further investigation.
  • Further research is needed to understand the specific roles of P. acnes phylotypes in orthopedic implant infections.

More Related Videos

A Periprosthetic Joint Candida albicans Infection Model in Mouse04:37

A Periprosthetic Joint Candida albicans Infection Model in Mouse

Published on: February 2, 2024

Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
Bacterial Phylum Proteobacteria01:26

Bacterial Phylum Proteobacteria

Proteobacteria, one of the largest and most diverse bacterial phyla, encompasses a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria distinguished by their outer membrane composed of lipopolysaccharides. These microorganisms exhibit various metabolic capabilities, including phototrophy, chemolithotrophy, and heterotrophy, and thrive in diverse environments from soil to aquatic systems and host-associated niches. The phylum is divided into six classes: Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria,...
Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes01:24

Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes

The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota01:26

Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota

The phylum Bacteroidota includes over 700 species classified into four primary orders: Bacteroidales, Cytophagales, Flavobacteriales, and Sphingobacteriales. These gram-negative, non-sporulating rods exhibit saccharolytic capabilities and can be aerobic or fermentative, encompassing obligate aerobes, facultative aerobes, and obligate anaerobes. Many species display gliding motility, though some are nonmotile or use flagella. The genus Bacteroides is well-studied due to its significant role in...
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...