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Fact Sheet: Cutibacterium acnes

Posted 9th July 2018 by Wickham Micro

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Description:
•    Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes, is an anaerobic, non-motile and non-sporing Gram-positive bacterium that is part of the human skin flora.
•    C. acnes owes its name to its ability to generate propionic acid.
•    Thomas Casper Gilchrist isolated this bacteria in the 1900s.

Interesting Facts:
•    C. acnes was first suggested as being responsible for acne in 1896. Approximately 85% of the population experience minor acne between the ages of 12 to 24.
•    Although its unusual pigmentation is white to grey, C. acnes looks orange under blacklight.
•    C. acnes grows in the lipid-rich microenvironment of the hair follicles and its optimum growth temperature in 30 to 37°C.
•    C. acnes can be killed with ultraviolet light.
•    C. acnes is a nonspecific immune stimulant.

Infection:
•    C. acnes is an opportunistic pathogen, mainly know as the cause of acne vulgaris but also responsible for post-operation and medical device related infections.
•    C. acnes is recognised to be an important isolated pathogen in prosthetic shoulder joint infections, fibrosis of breast implant and infections caused by cardiovascular devices.
•    In 2009, a study by A. Patel showed that C. acnes is more likely to infect the shoulder than the hip or knee after surgery and that men have a higher natural bacterial bioburden than women.
•    Although acne is caused by many factors, one of the main causes is the over activity of all glands which encourage bacteria in the skin to multiply – this bacterium uses the oil gland secretions, sebum, as a source of energy. C. acnes multiplies in skin with an oily-build up, leading to the inflamed spots characteristics of the acne.

In the lab / at Wickham Micro Ltd
•    Media such as Tryptone Soya Agar Blood Agar (BTSA) can be used to examine for the presence of C. acnes. Colonies appear convex, semi-opaque, and glistening and can be seen pigmented in an array of colours from white to red these are indicated as a positive result, this is then confirmed using identification techniques such as MALDI-ToF (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-time of Flight).
•    C. acnes can be one of the many challenge microoganisms used in the Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) testing. This is usually a chosen microorganism used the topical facial products.
•    As a skin commensal organism, C. acnes is ubiquitous in the environment. These organisms are particularly problematic where you have opportunities for shedding of skin cells, hence why appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and gowning procedures are of vital importance in settings where microbial contamination may cause an issue e.g. cleanrooms.
•    As C. acnes is found in the environment it can be found as a contaminant in microbial tests such as the sterility test. It is commonly picked up in this test due to the use of THY as it is an anaerobic media. it may be useful to include anaerobic checks in your environmental monitoring where such organisms have been identified as a potential risk.
 

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