A Rare Cause of Wound Infection: Shewanella putrefaciens

Abstract

Shewanella putrefaciens has a wide geographical distribution, including all forms of sea water, fresh water, fish and soil. In humans, it is an unusual pathogen of wound infections. In this report, a wound infection was presented in a previously healthy man.

Genomic Analysis of Carbon Source Metabolism of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1: Predictions versus Experiments

“…This has raised the possibility that shewanellae could serve as decontaminating agents in the environment (2,18,19,24). Also, these bacteria can cause food spoilage and can act as opportunistic pathogens (3,12) and thus are of some interest to the food industry and medicine.…”

Fatal Skin and Soft Tissue Infection, Peritonitis and Bacteriemia Caused by <i>Shewanella petrefaciens</i>

“…The majority of the patients who were infected with Shewanella putrefaciens had history of skin injuries that disrupted the integrity of the skin or being contacted with contaminated water [1] [9]. Other predisposing factors include renal failure, malignancy, poor living condition, hepatobiliary disease, alcoholism or immunosuppressive patients [3] [10]. Only six cases of fatal infection of Shewanella putrefaciens have been reported previously in three English publications [6] [7] [11], none in the United States.…”

Outbreak ofShewanella algaeandShewanella putrefaciensInfections Caused by a Shared Measuring Cup in a General Surgery Unit in Korea

“…Therefore, exposure time could validly be considered as equivalent to the period from drainage catheter insertion to diagnosis. Previous reports of definite exposures to seawater or freshwater have shown various ranges of incubation periods: 1-5 days, 28 1 day, 42 3 days, 23,26 6 days, 31 4 months, 10 and 10 months. 32 The medical histories of 2 possible index patients indicated no exposure of any kind to seawater or freshwater.…”

“…Shewanella algae and Shewanella putrefaciens are associated with human infections that include bacteremia, 6,10-22 cellulitis (skin and soft tissue infection), 6,9,10,[14][15][16][23][24][25][26][27] ear infection, 28,29 cerebellar abscess, 30 wound infection, 31 osteomyelitis, 32 empyema, 33 endocarditis, 34,35 and peritonitis. 36 The typical predisposing factors for infection with S. algae or S. putrefaciens are exposure to a marine environment with a skin lesion or skin trauma 10,14,16,23,24,28,30,31 ; other factors include the presence of a severe underlying debility, liver disease, or malignancy; prematurity; and a compromised immune system. 6,11,12,24,26,35 Most infections with Shewanella have been community associated; hospital-associated infections have been very uncommon.…”