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

Publication

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

Journal Paper/Review - Nov 21, 2016

Asimaki E, Nolte O, Overesch G, Strahm Carol

Citation

Asimaki E, Nolte O, Overesch G, Strahm C. A dangerous hobby? Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae bacteremia most probably acquired from freshwater aquarium fish handling. Infection 2016; 45:557-562.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

Infection 2016; 45

Publication Date

Nov 21, 2016

Issn Electronic

1439-0973

Pages

557-562

Brief description/objective

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.