Infected aortic stent graft with Propionibacterium acnes

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Infectious Diseases
• Bacteriology

Background:

• Infected aortic endografts present significant patient morbidity and mortality.
• Type II endoleaks can lead to aortic sac expansion, necessitating intervention.

Observation:

• A case of infected aortic endograft following percutaneous translumbar sac embolization for type II endoleak is presented.
• The patient developed sac expansion attributed to the endograft infection.

Findings:

• The causative pathogen identified was Propionibacterium acnes, a common skin bacterium.
• This represents the first reported instance of aortic graft infection specifically by P. acnes.

Implications:

• Highlights a novel etiology for aortic endograft infections.
• Suggests the need for vigilance regarding unusual pathogens in graft infections.
• Underscores the importance of timely graft explantation and reconstruction for managing such infections.