Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
10:45
Deep Dermal Injection As a Model of Candida albicans Skin Infection for Histological Analyses
Published on: June 13, 2018
Two cases of discitis due to Propionibacterium acnes
J Crouzet1, P Claudepierre, E H Aribi
1Rheumatology Department, Corbeil Hospital, Corbeil, France.
Revue Du Rhumatisme (English Ed.)
|April 2, 1998
Summary
Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) can cause serious bone and joint infections like discitis, even in healthy individuals. This anaerobic skin bacterium is linked to spontaneous or trauma-related infections, and potentially SAPHO syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is an anaerobic bacterium commonly found on the skin.
- While typically commensal, P. acnes can cause various infections, including osteomyelitis and discitis.
- This study investigates P. acnes as a causative agent in bone and joint infections.
Observation:
- Two cases of discitis caused by P. acnes are presented.
- A review of existing literature on P. acnes bone and joint infections was conducted.
- Most affected patients were immunocompetent.
Findings:
- P. acnes can lead to discitis, osteitis, arthritis, and chest wall osteitis.
- Infections can be spontaneous or secondary to skin breaches or foreign material implantation (e.g., fractures, arthroplasty).
- P. acnes involvement in chest wall infections is noted in patients with palmoplantar pustulosis or chronic osteitis, suggesting a role in SAPHO syndrome.
Implications:
- Highlights P. acnes as an underrecognized pathogen in bone and joint infections.
- Suggests considering P. acnes in the differential diagnosis of discitis and osteomyelitis, especially in immunocompetent individuals.
- Supports the association between P. acnes and SAPHO syndrome, warranting further investigation.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Skin Diseases and Disorders
Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
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...
01:27The 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...
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...
01:27Acne 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...
01:26Brain Abscess l: Introduction
A brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection characterized by a localized collection of pus within the brain parenchyma, resulting from microbial invasion and the body’s inflammatory response. It progresses through stages: early and late cerebritis, followed by early and late capsule formation, reflecting tissue destruction, immune response, and eventual encapsulation.Etiology and PathogenesisCausative organisms vary with source and host factors, often involving polymicrobial infections,...