Abstract
Aeromonas spp. have been implicated in a wide spectrum of human disease including wound infection. A review is made of local experience of 27 wound infections from which aerogenic strains ofAeromonas were recovered; of these,Aeromonas was isolated in pure culture from five infections. Twenty-five infections were related to trauma and were community acquired, while two were probably nosocomial. Of the 25 community acquired infections, 16 were associated with contamination by soil and one with water. Twenty-six cases were surgically debrided or a limb or digit amputated, but in only one case was amputation performed because of uncontrolled infection. Fifteen patients received antibiotics inappropriate for the infection, yet the outcome was uniformly good. This series is discussed with a review of the English language literature.Aeromonas is most likely to be isolated when there is contamination of a wound by soil or water; adequate surgical debridement is probably of primary importance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
von Graevenitz, A. Aeromonas andPlesiomonas. In: Lennette, E. H., Balows, A., Hausler, W. J., Shadomy, H. J. (ed.): Manual of clinical microbiology. American Society of Microbiology, Washington, DC, 1985, p. 278–281.
Janda, J. M., Bottone, E. J., Reitano, M. Aeromonas species in clinical microbiology: significance, epidemiology and speciation. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease 1983, 1: 221–228.
Davis, W. A., Kane, J. G., Garagusi, V. F. HumanAeromonas infections. a review of the literature and a case report of endocarditis. Medicine 1978, 57: 267–277.
McCracken, A. W., Barkley, R. Isolation ofAmeromonas species from clinical sources. Journal of Clinical Pathology 1972, 25: 970–975.
Washington, J. A. Aeromonas hydrophila in clinical bacteriologic specimens. Annals of Internal Medicine 1972, 76: 611–614.
von Graevenitz, A., Mensch, A. H. The genusAeromonas in human bacteriology: report of 30 cases and review of the literature. New England Journal of Medicine 1968, 278: 245–249.
Sen, M. K., MacCartney, I. L., Nnochiri, E. Septic arthritis due toAeromonas hydrophila infection. British Journal of Clinical Practice 1977, 31: 166–167.
Weinstock, R. E., Bass, S. J., Lauf, E., Sorkin, B. A. Aeromonas hydrophila: a rare and potentially life-threatening pathogen to humans. Journal of Foot Surgery 1982, 21: 45–53.
Colaco, C. B. Aeromonas hydrophila liver abscess. Lancet 1982, i: 680.
Mellersh, A. R., Norman, P., Smith, G. H. Aeromonas hydrophila: an outbreak of hospital infection. Journal of Hospital Infection 1984, 5: 425–430.
George, W. L., Jones, M. J., Nakata, M. M. Phenotypic characteristics ofAeromonas species isolated from adult humans. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1986, 23: 1026–1029.
Heckerling, P. S., Stine, T. M., Pottage, J. C., Levin, S., Harris, A. A. Aeromonas hydrophila myonecrosis and gas gangrene in a nonimmunopromised host. Archives of Internal Medicine 1983, 143: 2005–2007.
Geller, H. S., Tofte, R. W., Cunningham, B. L. Aeromonas hydrophila wound infection of the hand initially presenting as clostridial myonecrosis. Journal of Hand Surgery 1983, 8: 333–335.
Simodynes, E. E., Cochran, R. M. Aeromonas hydrophila infection complicating an open tibial fracture: a case report. Clinical Orthopaedics 1982, 171: 117–120.
Lynch, J. M., Tilson, W. R., Hodges, G. R., Barnes, W. G., Bopp, W. J., Watanabe, I. NosocomialAeromonas hydrophila cellulitis and bacteremia in a nonimmunocompromised patient. Southern Medical Journal 1981, 74: 901–902.
Fulghum, D. D., Linton, W. R., Taplin, D. FatalAeromonas hydrophila infection of the skin. Southern Medical Journal 1978, 71: 739–741.
Stokes, E. J. Clinical bacteriology. Arnold, London, 1960, p. 176–185.
Ketover, B. P., Young, L. S., Armstrong, D. Septicemia due toAeromonas hydrophila: clinical and immunologic aspects. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1973, 127: 284–290.
Rosenthal, S. G., Bernhardt, H. E., Phillips, J. A. Aeromonas hydrophila wound infection. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 1974, 53: 77–79.
Lopez, J. F., Quesada, J., Saied, A. Bacteremia and osteomyelitis due toAeromonas hydrophila: a complication during the treatment of acute leukaemia. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 1968, 50: 587–591.
Shackleford, P. G., Ratzan, S. A., Shearer, W. T. Ecthyma gangrenosum produced byAeromonas hydrophila. Journal of Pediatrics 1973, 83: 100–101.
Levin, M. L. Gas-formingAeromonas hydrophila infection in a diabetic. Postgraduate Medicine 1973, 54: 127–129.
Hunter, W. F., Atkinson, H. M. Infection due toAeromonas hydrophila. Medical Journal of Australia 1968, 1: 565.
Hanson, P. G., Standridge, J., Jarret, F., Maki, D. G. Freshwater wound infection due toAeromonas hydrophila. Journal of the American Medical Association 1977, 238: 1053–1054.
Joseph, S. W., Daily, O. P., Hunt, W. S., Seidler, R. J., Allen, D. A., Colwell, R. R. Aeromonas primary wound infection of a diver in polluted waters. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1979, 10: 46–49.
Smith, J. A. Aeromonas hydrophila: analysis of 11 cases. Canadian Medical Association Journal 1980, 122: 1270–1272.
Fraire, A. E. Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Journal of the American Medical Association 1978, 239: 192.
Blatz, D. J. Open fracture of the tibia and fibula complicated by infection withAeromonas hydrophila: a case report. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 1979, 61-A: 790–791.
Liseki, E. J., Curl, W. W., Markey, K. L. Hand and forearm infections caused byAeromonas hydrophila. Journal of Hand Surgery 1980, 5: 605.
Katz, D., Smith, H. Aeromonas hydrophila infection of a puncture wound. Annals of Emergency Medicine 1980, 9: 529–531.
Young, D. F., Barr, R. J. Aeromonas hydrophila infection of the skin. Archives of Dermatology 1981, 117: 244.
Saenghirunvattana, S., Moolla, P., Suwangool, P., Hanvanich, M., Reinprayool, S. Septicemia due toAeromonas hydrophila. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 1984, 67: 111–113.
Masear, V. R., Hill, J. J. Aeromonas hydrophila infection in the hand. Illinois Medical Journal 1985, 167: 123–125.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Isaacs, R.D., Paviour, S.D., Bunker, D.E. et al. Wound infection with aerogenicAeromonas strains: A review of twenty-seven cases. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 7, 355–360 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01962336
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01962336