Propionibacterium acnes infectious endocarditis

• Published in: La Presse médicale (1983) Vol. 27; no. 36; p. 1839
• Main Authors: Durupt, S, Boibieux, A, Ballet-Mechain, M, Chaumentin, G, Tremeau, G, Roure, C, Peyramond, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 21.11.1998
• Subjects: Discitis - diagnosis; Discitis - microbiology; Endocarditis, Bacterial - diagnosis; Endocarditis, Bacterial - microbiology; Fatal Outcome; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - diagnosis; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Heart Valve Prosthesis - microbiology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Propionibacterium acnes - pathogenicity; Prosthesis-Related Infections - diagnosis; Prosthesis-Related Infections - microbiology; Virulence
• ISSN: 0755-4982

Propionibacterium acnes, a Gram positive microaerophilic bacteria is considered to have a low level of virulence. Nevertheless, it can be associated with infective endocarditis. We report 2 cases and a review of the literature. The first man developed an acute prosthetic valve infective endocarditis and died. The second case was also a prosthetic valve infective endocarditis in a patient who developed infectious spondylitis. P. acnes is an uncommon causal agent in infective endocarditis and appears to have a predilectio for prosthetic valves. A prior history of skin infection is rare. P. acnes grow quite slowly, often requiring 7 to 14 days for identification. All isolates of P. acnes from blood or valve do not necessarily mean contamination.