Propionibacterium acnes osteomyelitis: case report and review of the literature

Propionibacterium acnes, a part of the skin flora, caused vertebral osteomyelitis in a man who had recently undergone a microdiskectomy. The identifying characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility pattern are presented for this unusual human pathogen. The relationship of P. acnes to bone infection is summarized for the first time. A typical patient with P. acnes osteomyelitis is an adult male who has had prior surgery. Most patients respond favorably to prolonged antibiotic therapy.