PROPIONIBACTERIUM-AVIDUM SACROILIITIS AND OSTEOMYELITIS

The anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium Propionibacterium avidum is a co mmon inhabitant of the skin with low pathogenicity. We report a case o f P. avidum sacroiliitis, psoas abscess and osteomyelitis in a 67-year -old male who had recently undergone surgical repair of an inguinal he rnia. The organism was recovered from blood cultures, a bone biopsy sp ecimen and specimens from the abscess. The spectrum of bone and joint infections caused by Propionibacterium is discussed. Infection by Prop ionibacterium spp. should be considered in patients with bone and join t infections.