Prospective cohort study culturing skin at the shoulder (anterior acromion, posterior acromion, axilla), hip, and knee of 20 subjects using semi-quantitative anaerobic culture to determine whether P. acnes preferentially colonizes the shoulder and whether colonization varies by sex.
When operating on the shoulder — especially in male patients.
Recognize that P. Acnes colonization rivals Staphylococcus at the surgical site: standard cephalosporin prophylaxis does not cover this anaerobe, cultures must be held for 14 days to avoid false negatives, and a chronically draining or indolent postoperative shoulder wound in a man should trigger anaerobic workup even months after surgery.
Prospective cohort study culturing skin at the shoulder (anterior acromion, posterior acromion, axilla), hip, and knee of 20 subjects using semi-quantitative anaerobic culture to determine whether P. acnes preferentially colonizes the shoulder and whether colonization varies by sex.
When operating on the shoulder — especially in male patients.
Recognize that P. Acnes colonization rivals Staphylococcus at the surgical site: standard cephalosporin prophylaxis does not cover this anaerobe, cultures must be held for 14 days to avoid false negatives, and a chronically draining or indolent postoperative shoulder wound in a man should trigger anaerobic workup even months after surgery.