Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
10:35
Novel Diagnostics in Revision Arthroplasty: Implant Sonication and Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction
Published on: December 3, 2017
11.2K
Cutibacterium avidum: A Potent and Underestimated Pathogen in Prosthetic Hip Joint Infections
Johanna Karlsson1,2, Nina Kamenska3, Erika Matuschek4
1NU Hospital Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, 461 73 Trollhättan, Sweden.
Microorganisms
|March 28, 2024
Summary
Cutibacterium avidum is an emerging cause of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs), challenging previous assumptions. This study identified four hip PJI cases, suggesting this pathogen may be underestimated and more virulent than previously thought.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Orthopedic Surgery
Background:
- Cutibacterium avidum is a recently identified cause of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs).
- Established causes like Cutibacterium acnes are well-documented, particularly in shoulder arthroplasties.
- Previous reports linked C. avidum PJIs to obesity and specific surgical approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report four cases of hip PJIs caused by C. avidum.
- To investigate the genetic relatedness and antibiotic susceptibility of C. avidum strains from PJI cases.
- To assess the clinical presentation and risk factors associated with C. avidum PJI.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series of four patients with hip PJIs caused by C. avidum over 30 months.
- Whole-genome sequencing to analyze strain relatedness.
- Antibiotic susceptibility testing to determine resistance profiles.
Main Results:
- Four distinct C. avidum strains were identified, ruling out a common outbreak source.
- All isolates were fully susceptible to tested antibiotics and lacked known resistance genes.
- Patients exhibited clear signs of infection during surgery, indicating C. avidum's virulence.
- Identified risk factors (obesity, direct anterior incision) did not apply to these cases.
Conclusions:
- The occurrence of four cases suggests C. avidum may be an emerging or underestimated cause of PJIs.
- C. avidum demonstrates virulence in causing hip PJIs.
- The typical risk factors for C. avidum PJI may not be universally applicable.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Bacterial 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,...
01:30Bacterial 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...
01:26Bacterial 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...
01:28Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract
The human urogenital system, once thought to be sterile in healthy individuals, is now recognized as a complex microbial habitat. Advancements in molecular sequencing techniques have revealed that even in healthy adults, the kidneys and bladder harbor microbial populations similar to those found in the distal urethra, albeit in much lower abundance. These resident microorganisms, while generally innocuous, can become opportunistic pathogens under conditions that alter the urogenital...
01:29Staphylococcal 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...
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...