Propionibacterium avidum Causing Native Breast Abscess

Journal Contribution ResearchOnline@JCU
Bradbury, Richard S.;Warren, Sanchia J.;Jones, David A.;Whipp, Margaret J.
Abstract

Propionibacterium avidum is traditionally considered an organism of low pathogenicity and is seldom associated with human infection. Rare reports of breast abscess caused by P. avidum have been almost exclusively associated with immunosuppression or prior surgical intervention. There are a small number of reports of this organism causing splenic abscess, septic arthritis, sacroiliitis, and osteomyelitis, as well as one report of perianal abscess (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). All these infections occurred in immunocompromised patients, patients with pre-existing medical conditions, or following a medical intervention (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). The organism has also been associated rarely with breast abscess (6, 7, 8), with only one such case being reported in a previously healthy individual who had no history of prior surgical intervention (8). Because of its low growth rate, it is possible that infections with P. avidum are underreported. We report a case of recurrent breast abscess caused by P. avidum that resulted from mammary duct ectasia in the absence of immunosuppression or prior surgery and propose that the organism is an underrecognized cause of such infections.

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Clinical Microbiology Newsletter

Volume

33

ISBN/ISSN

1873-4391

Edition

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Issue

19

Pages Count

2

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Publisher

Elsevier

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Publisher Location

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Publish Date

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Date

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EISSN

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DOI

10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2011.09.002