Language
Country/Area
No result found
Did you know that Cutibacterium acnes is associated with certain eye diseases?
Recent studies have shown that Cutibacterium acnes (formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes) are not only linked to acne, but may also trigger certain eye diseases, giving people a new look at this usually neglected skin bacteria. This bacterium lives primarily in human skin and hair follicles and is commonly found in the skin of healthy people, but sometimes becomes the source of problems.
Cutibacterium acnes is a relatively slow-growing anaerobic bacterium commonly associated with skin conditions such as acne, however recent studies have found that it can also lead to chronic blepharitis and endophthalmitis after intraocular surgery.
This bacterium was originally thought to be part of the normal flora of the skin, but research suggests that when its numbers are imbalanced, it can lead to worsening inflammation and skin problems such as acne. It is estimated that acne affects more than 45 million Americans, and 20% of dermatology outpatient clinics focus on such problems.
Association with acne
Cutibacterium acnes usually reside deep in the hair follicles, using metabolic products from sebum and skin cells as an energy source. When the sebaceous glands are overactive, the growth of C. acnes is accelerated, which can lead to clogged hair follicles and trigger inflammation.
Acne is not only a common skin disease, but also a global health care problem that affects millions of adolescents and adults every year.
Currently, the healthcare industry mostly resorts to antibiotics to treat acne, but growing antibiotic resistance has forced doctors to seek alternative treatment options, including combination with a broad range of antibacterial agents such as benzoyl peroxide, or the use of common drugs such as isotretinoin against severe or drug-resistant acne.
Ophthalmic Complications
Recent studies have found that Cutibacterium acnes can become a common cause of chronic endophthalmitis after cataract surgery and can lead to eye problems such as corneal ulcers, reminding doctors to pay special attention to the presence of this bacteria when performing eye surgery.
After eye surgery, infections caused by C. acnes can lead to severe visual impairment in patients, and it is crucial to value the role of this bacterium.
The importance of evidence that C. acnes creates long-term and potential complications for patients’ tissues during surgery cannot be underestimated.
Other health problems
In addition to acne and eye problems, Cutibacterium acnes is a possible culprit in other health problems, such as in people with disc herniation, which can cause micro-cracks in the bones, causing pain. At the same time, it has been found in some atypical conditions such as granulomatous diseases, which are usually related to the immune system.
C. acnes is considered an opportunistic pathogen that can cause a range of postoperative and device-related infections.
Of course, the problem of antibiotic resistance keeps getting worse, which has prompted scientists to gradually explore new treatments.
Future research directions
Further studies on Cutibacterium acnes have shown that it plays an increasingly important role in skin inflammation, ophthalmic diseases, and potentially chronic pathological processes. The medical community hopes that through a deeper understanding of this bacterium, more effective treatment options can be developed.
In the search for novel treatment options, exploring the role of such bacteria in various tissues of the human body will likely become a new trend in future public health research.
In short, the existence of Cutibacterium acnes reminds us that many seemingly ordinary bacteria may actually pose a health threat. Have you ever wondered if the microbes around you also have undiscovered influences?
