Incidence of Propionibacterium acnes in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

BACKGROUND

Recently, Propionibacterium acnes was reported to be involved in postsurgical outcomes. We investigated the detection rate of P. acnes and clinical features of P. acnes infection following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

METHODS

Samples were collected from skin swabs before preparation, swabs of the synovium, sutures, and swabs from the arthroscope tip. We evaluated age, sex, presence of diabetes mellitus, preoperative contracture, operation time, blood test, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, cuff integrity, deep infection, and positive inoculation rate.

RESULTS

We studied 90 patients (59 men and 31 women). Mean age was 60.6 years. Cultures of P. acnes showed a 65.5% positive superficial colonization rate (78.0%, male; 41.9%, female). Among the synovium swabs, P. acnes was detected in 13.6% and 0% of patients positive and negative for skin colonization with P. acnes, respectively. Positive culture was not correlated with age, sex, presence of diabetes mellitus, preoperative contracture, blood test, JOA score, cuff integrity, deep infection, operation time, and blood test date.

CONCLUSIONS

P. acnes was detected at a higher rate in the skin of male patients. Patients with P. acnes detected on the skin showed higher rates of detection in the synovium. These findings suggest that the route of infection is via contamination.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic level III; Case-control study.