ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous unit and Propionibacterium acnes biofilm-forming ability is believed to be a contributing factor to the disease development. In vivo models mimicking hair follicle environment are lacking. The aim of this study was to develop an in vivo Propionibacterium spp. biofilm model in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly). METHODS: We created a sterile line of D. melanogaster able to sustain Propionibacterium spp. biofilms in the gut. In order to mimic the lipid-rich, anaerobic environment of the hair follicle, fruit flies were maintained on lipid-rich diet. Propionibacterium spp. biofilms were visualized by immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. We further tested if the biofilm-dispersal activity of DNase I can be demonstrated in the developed model. RESULTS: We have demonstrated the feasibility of our in vivo model for development and study of P. acnes, P. granulosum and P. avidum biofilms. The model is suitable to evaluate dispersal as well as other agents against P. acnes biofilm. CONCLUSIONS: We report a novel in vivo model for studying Propionibacterium spp. biofilms. The model can be suitable for both mechanistic as well as interventional studies.
Subject(s)
Biofilms , Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology , Host Microbial Interactions , Propionibacterium/physiology , Animals , Biofilms/growth & development , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Propionibacterium/ultrastructureABSTRACT
Cutibacterium avidum is a gram-positive anaerobic rod belonging to the cutaneous group of human bacteria with preferential colonization of sweat glands in moist areas. The microorganism rarely cause disease, generally delayed prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). We describe the second case of intraperitoneal abscess by C. avidum after an abdominal surgery in an obese female patient and the first case after a non-prosthetic abdominal surgery due to a highly clindamycin resistant strain in a patient with underling conditions. The patient was successfully treated with surgical drainage and beta-lactam antibiotics. Although rare and apparently non-pathogenic, C. avidum may be involved in infections, especially in some high-risk patients with obesity who have undergone surgical incision involving deep folder of the skin. The microorganism was identified by phenotypic methods, MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Susceptibility test should be performed in C. avidum because high level resistance to clindamycin could be present. We present a literature review of C. avidum infections.
Subject(s)
Abdominal Abscess/diagnosis , Abdominal Abscess/pathology , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/diagnosis , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/pathology , Hysterectomy/adverse effects , Laparotomy/adverse effects , Propionibacteriaceae/isolation & purification , Abdominal Abscess/microbiology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Clindamycin/pharmacology , DNA, Bacterial/chemistry , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Humans , Hysterectomy/methods , Laparotomy/methods , Obesity/complications , Propionibacteriaceae/classification , Propionibacteriaceae/drug effects , Propionibacteriaceae/genetics , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
We describe the characteristics of 11 cases of skin and soft tissue infections due to Cutibacterium (formerly Propionibacterium) avidum. This microorganism should be considered a potential skin pathogen especially in patients with breast infections. The clinical outcome is usually good but serious infections such as necrotizing infections may occur.
Subject(s)
Actinomycetales Infections/diagnosis , Actinomycetales Infections/pathology , Propionibacterium/isolation & purification , Skin Diseases, Bacterial/diagnosis , Skin Diseases, Bacterial/pathology , Soft Tissue Infections/diagnosis , Soft Tissue Infections/pathology , Actinomycetales Infections/microbiology , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Skin Diseases, Bacterial/microbiology , Soft Tissue Infections/microbiology , Survival Analysis , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Bone and joint infections remain a clinical challenge with potentially serious consequences. Nevertheless there is a lack of studies with strict criteria for diagnosis and etiology. The primary aim of this study was to determine the causative agents in orthopaedic infections using strict diagnostic criteria for infection and etiology. The secondary aim was to assess the timing of post-operative infections in relation to pathogens and to compare causative bacteria in different parts of the body. METHODS: A retrospective registry study of 363 consecutive cases of bone and joint infections was performed. Microbiological data on sampling and culture results were registered. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus dominated in both operated (45%) and non-operated (44%) patients, followed in frequency by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) in operated patients (11%) and beta-haemolytic streptococci in non-operated patients (16%) (p < 0.001). There were no polymicrobial infections in non-surgical cases (p < 0.001). For operated patients, Gram-negative bacilli were observed in 6%, almost exclusively isolated from the lower extremity. Propionibacterium spp. was the most common finding after spinal surgery. In 90/363 (25%), the agent responsible for the infection could not be defined according to the strict criteria used. CONCLUSION: S. aureus dominated as etiological agent in all bone and joint infections, including operated patient given peri-operative prophylaxis. Improved timing of antibiotic prophylaxis seen after the introduction of the Swedish national project PRISS may have changed this. The number of infections with uncertain etiology was high, stressing the importance of more studies on diagnostics, as well as strict diagnostic algorithms.