A dangerous hobby? Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae bacteremia most probably acquired from freshwater aquarium fish handling

E Asimaki; O Nolte; G Overesch; C Strahm

doi:10.1007/s15010-016-0966-z

A dangerous hobby? Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae bacteremia most probably acquired from freshwater aquarium fish handling

Infection. 2017 Aug;45(4):557-562. doi: 10.1007/s15010-016-0966-z. Epub 2016 Nov 21.

Authors

E Asimaki¹, O Nolte², G Overesch³, C Strahm⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Rorschacher Str. 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland. [email protected].
² Center of Laboratory Medicine, Frohbergstrasse 3, 9001, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
³ Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 120, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Infectious Diseases, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Rorschacher Str. 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland.

PMID: 27873166
DOI: 10.1007/s15010-016-0966-z

Abstract

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive rod that occurs widely in nature and is best known in veterinary medicine for causing swine erysipelas. In humans, infections are rare and mainly considered as occupationally acquired zoonosis. A case of E. rhusiopathiae bacteremia most likely associated with home freshwater aquarium handling is reported. The route of transmission was probably a cut with the dorsal fin of a dead pet fish. A short review of clinical presentations, therapeutic considerations and pitfalls of E. rhusiopathiae infections in humans is presented.

Keywords: Bacteremia; Endocarditis; Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae; Fish; Freshwater aquarium.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged
Animals
Erysipelothrix / physiology*
Erysipelothrix Infections / diagnosis*
Erysipelothrix Infections / drug therapy*
Erysipelothrix Infections / microbiology
Fishes
Hobbies*
Humans
Male
Pets*
Switzerland
Treatment Outcome