Abstract
Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), previously known as Propionibacterium
acnes (although likely underreported), is a rare cause of infective
endocarditis (IE) and often difficult to diagnose. We describe three
cases from a single centre over a five-year period to provide insight
into the various clinical presentations, progression and management of
patients with this infection. The primary objective of our series is to
highlight the difficulty in the initial assessment of these patients
with an aim to improve the time and accuracy of diagnosis and expedite
subsequent treatment. There are currently no guidelines in the
literature for the management of IE caused by Cutibacterium acnes. Our
secondary objectives are to disseminate information about the indolent
course of the disease and add to the growing body of evidence around
this rare yet complex cause of IE.