Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is now recognized as a clinical entity in periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) of the shoulder and spine. However, the colonization rate of C. acnes in the adult hip is currently unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of C. acnes colonization from the skin of healthy subjects from various anatomic locations corresponding to direct anterior and lateral/posterolateral surgical approaches. 90 patients scheduled for hip or knee surgery were recruited for cultured biopsies. Four 3-mm dermal punch biopsies were collected after administration of anesthesia, but prior to delivery of perioperative antibiotics. Pre-biopsy skin prep consisted of a standardized pre-operative 2% chlorhexidine skin cleanse and an additional 70% isopropyl alcohol mechanical skin scrub immediately prior to biopsy collection. Two culture samples 10-cm apart were collected from a location approximating a standard direct anterior skin incision, and two samples 10-cm apart were collected from a location approximating a lateral skin incision (suitable for a posterior, direct-lateral or anterolateral surgical approach). Samples were cultured for two weeks.Introduction
Methods
