Propionibacterium acnes: an under-appreciated cause of post-neurosurgical infection

Propionibacterium acnes is increasingly recognized as a cause of post-neurosurgical infection. This review of patients with P . acnes neurosurgical infection was carried out in order to determine clinical characteristics and outcomes in relation to duration of antimicrobial treatment. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of consecutive patients with P . acnes isolated from neurosurgical specimens from 1 January 1999 to 30 June 2005. We defined P . acnes neurosurgical infection as isolation of P . acnes alone from a sterile neurosurgical site in a patient who clinically improved following treatment with an appropriate antibiotic. We identified 28 patients with definite P . acnes neurosurgical infection; median age 49 years (range 23–77); 15 (54%) male. All patients had prior neurosurgical procedures: 27 (96%) post-craniotomy. The median time from surgery to presentation was 54 days (range 12–1578). Eighteen out of 28 (64%) patients who met the definition of neurosurgical infection had Gram-positive bacilli seen in at least one surgical specimen compared with only 2/56 (4%) patients who did not meet the definition ( P < 0.0001). Intravenous benzyl penicillin ± oral penicillin VK was the most common treatment. The median duration of antibiotic treatment for intracranial infection was 29 days. Five of nine patients who had extracranial bone-flap-associated infection had ≤7 days of intravenous treatment and were cured. Two patients had relapse or reinfection. P . acnes neurosurgical infection often presents in an indolent fashion. Gram-positive bacilli on Gram stain should not be discounted as a contaminant in neurosurgical specimens. Associated bone flaps should be removed. Intravenous benzyl penicillin ± oral penicillin VK remains effective treatment.