Soft tissue infections with Arcanobacterium haemolyticum: report of three cases

Indian J Med Microbiol. 2008 Apr-Jun;26(2):192-5. doi: 10.4103/0255-0857.40543.

Abstract

We report here three polymicrobial wound infections associated with Arcanobacterium haemolyticum in rural patients aged between 60-65 years. In two patients, one with cellulitis and the other with postoperative wound infection following amputation of the limb, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum was isolated repeatedly along with beta haemolytic streptococci (BHS). The BHS belonged to Lancefield's group G and group C respectively. In another patient, who was a diabetic with chronic osteomyelitis, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum was isolated along with Proteus vulgaris . All the three isolates of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum isolated by us were uniformly resistant to cotrimoxazole and sensitive to penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. Erythromycin alone or combined therapy of penicillin with erythromycin or penicillin with ciprofloxacin was effective in treating these infections.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Actinomycetaceae / isolation & purification*
  • Actinomycetales Infections / complications
  • Actinomycetales Infections / diagnosis*
  • Actinomycetales Infections / drug therapy
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cellulitis / microbiology
  • Diabetes Complications
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteomyelitis / complications
  • Proteus Infections / complications
  • Proteus Infections / microbiology
  • Proteus vulgaris / isolation & purification
  • Rural Population
  • Soft Tissue Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / complications
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Streptococcus / isolation & purification
  • Surgical Wound Infection / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents