Figs. 1-A, 1-B, and 1-C Results of the 21-day cultures of specimens from a 42-year-old man who presented for a shoulder arthroplasty.

Fig. 1-A.

Results of the culture of a specimen from the unprepared skin surface. Combining the culture positivity for the 2 different species of Propionibacterium yielded an SpPV of 2. The SpCV value is 1. The Corynebacterium result was not considered in our analysis. Note that, despite the presence of these bacteria, the Gram smear was negative. C and S w/Gram, Ortho = culture and sensitivity with Gram stain as per orthopaedic protocol.

Fig. 1-B.

Results of the culture of a specimen from the freshly incised dermis. The SpPV was 3, and the SpCV was 0.

Fig. 1-C.

Results of the culture of the control swab. The SpPV was 0, and the SpCV was 0.