Late anaerobic haematogenous infection of experimental total joint replacement. A study in the rabbit using Propionibacterium acnes.

Haematogenous contamination of cemented total knee replacements with an anaerobic microorganism, Propionibacterium acnes, was studied in rabbits. Seven weeks after operation the bacteria were injected intravenously and seven weeks after this bacterial challenge the experimental bacterial strain was cultured from 50 per cent of the artificial joints. Bacterial growth at the prosthesis was not correlated to loosening. The results ifiustrate that anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria are also important in haematogenous infection of the total joint replacement.