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High rate of skin colonization with Propionibacterium acnes found after shoulder arthroscopy
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After shoulder arthroscopy, there was a high rate of skin colonization with Propionibacterium acnes at the arthroscopic portals, according to study results.
Following routine intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis among 51 patients (74.5% men) undergoing outpatient shoulder arthroscopy, researchers obtained initial cultures before the skin preparation. A second culture was obtained after completion of the arthroscopic procedure through a cannula at the surgical site.
Michael J. Chuang
At the skin portal site, results showed a 72.5% Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) superficial colonization rate and a 19.6% deep culture positive inoculation rate. Of the positive deep cultures, 100% also had positive P. acnes skin colonization, according to researchers. Positive skin colonization was found in 81.6% of men compared with 46.1% of women. Overall, 27% of patients with positive skin cultures had positive deep tissue cultures following shoulder arthroscopy.
In cases involving the use of suture anchors, 19.4% had positive deep cultures vs. 20% of cases without anchor deployment. Researchers also found a mean time to positive culture findings of 12.4 days for colonization at the skin. The mean time to positive culture findings was 12.6 days for deep inoculation. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: Chuang reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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