Surgical wound infections due to Propionibacterium acnes: a study of 10 cases.

Ten cases of surgical wound infection in which Propionibacterium acnes was probably the aetiologic agent were reviewed; in five the organism was isolated in pure culture. Six patients underwent a neurosurgical procedure. The average time for development of infection was 17.5 days (range 1-30 days). All patients were cured by surgical drainage and, in nine cases, with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. In conclusion, P. acnes must be considered as a cause of surgical wound infections especially after neurosurgery.