Neglected and underestimated in the past, Propionibacterium acnes is currently the most prevalent organism associated with deep prosthetic infections
around the shoulder. Surprisingly, it has never been reported as a cause of infection
in the hand. Here we report a case of a late presentation of a P. acnes infection in a metacarpophalangeal joint replacement, resulting in chronic low-grade
pain with movement. The patient underwent a 2-stage revision, with initial removal
of the prosthesis. Positive cultures for P. acnes required 15 days of extended incubation. The patient subsequently had 6 weeks of
oral antibiotics followed by a second-stage revision with a Silastic implant.
Key words
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 01, 2017
Accepted:
January 27,
2017
Received:
November 10,
2016
Footnotes
No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
The investigation was performed at the Melbourne Orthopaedic Group and Department of Orthopaedics, Dandenong Hospital, Monash University, Australia.
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.
