Table 1.

The distribution of bacteria in the positive cultures

Isolated microorganisms	Herniated discs (N = 61)	Of the herniated discs with positive microbiology (N = 28)
Anaerobic
Propionibacterium acnes	24 (40 %)	86 %
Coagulase-negative staphylococci	2 (3 %)	7 %
Aerobic
Gram-positive cocci (1 single)	4 (6 %)a	14 %a
Gram-negative rod (1 single)	1 (1.5 %)	3 %
Neisseria species	1 (1.5 %)b	3 %b
Positive cultures	52 % (46 %)d	113 %c

^a3 patients with dual bacteria identified, gram positive cocci and Propione Acnes

^bThe patient had dual bacteria identified, Neisseria species and Propione Acnes

^cThis figure is 113 % is due to the fact that four patients had two microorganisms isolated with one anaerobic and one aerobic culture

^dThis figure is 52 % as opposed to the overall 46 % because four patients had mixed microorganisms isolated and one patient had a positive anaerobic and one aerobic culture