Propionibacterium acnes and SAPHO syndrome : a case report and literature review

To describe the presence of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) in a series of patients with SAPHO syndrome in which a bone biopsy has been carried out and to discuss the results comparing them to the data described in the literature. In 6 out of 56 patients with SAPHO syndrome, a bone biopsy from osteitic lesion was carried out. This invasive investigation was performed only in those cases in which it was necessary to clarify the diagnosis. Of the 6 biopsies processed, P. acnes was isolated in only one case. No other infectious agents were identified. P. acnes is not often found in bone lesions of SAPHO syndrome. A bone biopsy may represent a procedure useful for corroborating the diagnosis or for excluding other diseases only in specific cases.