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

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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.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the clinical microbiologist and veterinary D. Hüssy for performing the cultures and subcultures of aquarium and fish samples and the endocrinologists S. Bilz and K. Schimke for discussion about hypopituitarism, steroid substitution treatment and immunosuppression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Rorschacher Str. 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    E. Asimaki

  2. Department of Infectious Diseases, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Rorschacher Str. 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    C. Strahm

  3. Center of Laboratory Medicine, Frohbergstrasse 3, 9001, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    O. Nolte

  4. Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 120, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

    G. Overesch

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  1. E. Asimaki
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  2. O. Nolte
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  3. G. Overesch
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  4. C. Strahm
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Correspondence to E. Asimaki.

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Asimaki, E., Nolte, O., Overesch, G. et al. A dangerous hobby? Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae bacteremia most probably acquired from freshwater aquarium fish handling. Infection 45, 557–562 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-016-0966-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-016-0966-z

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