Ventricular patch endocarditis caused by Propionibacterium acnes: advantages of gallium scanning

Abstract

Propionibacterium acnes is a weakly pathogenic commensal of the skin. When isolated from blood cultures it is often considered a contaminant. However, P. acnes may be responsible for severe infections and its role in certain cases of infectious endocarditis has now been definitely established.(1) We report a case of endocarditis due to P. acnes stemming from a ventricular patch and revealed by a gallium 67 scan.