Case repositoryPyogenic Flexor Tenosynovitis Caused by Shewanella algae
Section snippets
Case Report
A 39-year-old man presented to our emergency department reporting pain and swelling in the right ring finger, which he had stuck with a fishhook while fishing in saltwater offshore 2 days prior. At the time of injury, the patient removed the fishhook and applied topical bacitracin. At presentation he was experiencing fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, and weakness along with burning pain radiating from the right hand toward the elbow. His medical history was unremarkable.
Physical
Discussion
Shewanella algae is an oxidase-positive, non-fermenter, gram-negative rod that produces H2S gas in triple sugar iron slant. It can be differentiated from other species within its genus by its growth at 42°C, growth in the presence of high NaCl concentration (6.5%), and hemolysis on 5% sheep blood agar, all within 24 hours.3 Shewanella algae is found in warm saltwater environments4 and rarely causes infections in humans. It is the most virulent species in its genus and predominates in the
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Cited by (10)
Infection Management for the Hand Surgeon
2023, Hand ClinicsPyogenic Flexor Tenosynovitis: Evaluation and Management
2020, Hand ClinicsCitation Excerpt :Immunocompromised patients are at risk for several less common bacteria, such as Streptococcus mitis, a strain of Streptococcus viridans,8 as well as gram-negative organisms or mixed flora. Inoculations in marine environments have led to infections from less common pathogens, such as Mycobacterium marinum and Shewanella algae.9,10 Even more rare species have been isolated from the flexor tendon sheath, such as Nocardia nova, a gram-positive, acid-fast filamentous bacterium that is better known as a cause of pulmonary infections.11
Palmar Soft Tissue Infection From Shewanella putrefaciens
2018, Journal of Hand SurgeryCitation Excerpt :The patient also presented with all 4 Kanavel signs and was taken to the operating room for treatment. Shewanella algae and Proteus vulgaris were isolated and the patient was discharged on levofloxacin.10 These cases confirm that Shewanella species should be considered in wounds exposed to saltwater regardless of immune status.
Isolation, identification and characterization of Shewanella algae from reared tongue sole, Cynoglossus semilaevis Günther
2017, AquacultureCitation Excerpt :Some argue that S. algae may be a more virulent species and the most important pathogen in Shewanella (Khashe and Janda, 1998). S. algae usually infects ears and soft tissues of humans in clinics, and causes more serious infections, such as bacteremia, peritonitis, neonatal sepsis and pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis (Charles et al., 2015; Fluke et al., 2016; Kim et al., 2014). Recently, this pathogen has also been isolated from aquatic animals including Scinenops ocellata, marine sponge Callyspongia diffusa, Babylonia sp. (Chen et al., 2003; Li et al., 2015; Rachanamol et al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2013).
First reported case of non-coastal Shewanella algae in the United States: A case report and literature review
2022, Foot and Ankle Surgery: Techniques, Reports and CasesA Low Virulence Infective Tenosynovitis Triggered by a Neisseria Species
2022, Journal of Hand Surgery Asian-Pacific Volume
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