Native valve endocarditis caused by E rysipelothrix Rh usiopathiae: presenting with refractory heart failure and requiring surgical valve replacement-report on a rare zoonosis.

Erysipelothrix Rhusiopathiae is a Gram-positive bacillus that is ubiquitous in nature. The bacterium is a zoonotic pathogen known to infect wild and domestic animals. Human infections, however, are uncommon and typically present with localised or generalised cutaneous lesions. Systemic infection in the form of bacteraemia with seeding to various organs is the least common form of the disease. Infections in humans tend to be associated with occupational exposure and close contact with animals. Clinical data of a 61-year-old male patient with Gram-positive bacilli bacteraemia and E. Rh usiopathiae-induced endocarditis are presented here. The patient presented with refractory congestive heart failure secondary to severe acute aortic regurgitation mandating surgical valve replacement. The described case has special clinical merit given the lack of fever and leukocytosis, absence of erysipeloid cutaneous manifestations and refractoriness to medical management. E. Rhusiopathiae should be considered in the differential diagnosis for Gram-positive bacilli bacteraemia and endocarditis. In the proper clinical setting, occupational exposure and animal contacts are helpful clues to raise suspicion for this bacillus. The high mortality associated with the pathogen should urge for early identification and initiation of antimicrobial treatment.

Mitral regurgitation jet around neoannulus: mitral valve replacement in erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae endocarditis.

A 50-year-old male presented with erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (ER) endocarditis of the mitral valve, severe mitral regurgitation, and heart failure. The ER endocarditis destroyed the native mitral annulus therefore a new annulus was created for the suspension of the mitral bioprosthesis. Postoperative neoannulus dehiscence and leak prompted to redo surgery where transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) played an important role in pointing out the exact location of perineoannular leaks for repair.

[Septic arthritis caused by erysipelotrix rhusiopathiae: case report and review of the literature]. / Kniegelenksinfekt mit Erysipelotrix rhusiopathiae: Fallbericht und Ubersicht der internationalen Fachliteratur.

A 68-year-old man presented at our department with a suspected bacterial arthritis of the left knee. All diagnostic measures confirmed this diagnosis and the detected germ was Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. After arthroscopic debridement of the left knee, intravenous and oral antibiotic treatment for a total of 6 weeks, the patient was treated by total knee arthroplasty 6 months after the first presentation. The postoperative follow-up was without any pathological findings. There are only 4 other case reports in the international literature of Erysipelotrix rhusiopathiae linked to septic arthritis in humans. This case report of an infected knee further illustrates the pathogenicity of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in humans.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infection of a total knee arthroplasty an occupational hazard.

A 76-year-old man with a medical history of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus intersititial nephritis, and steroid therapy was found at first-stage revision total knee arthroplasty to have Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (a zoonotic pathogen normally associated with pigs and fish) infection of the arthroplasty. He had a history of potential occupational exposure to the organism. On literature review, we found only 3 other case reports of E rhusiopathiae linked to septic arthritis in humans. This unique case of an infected joint arthroplasty further illustrates the pathogenicity of E rhusiopathiae in humans.

Subacute endocarditis due to Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a rare cause of endocarditis. Most cases were observed in people working with animals. We report a case in a 45-year old man without any exposure to animals. He was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnoea. Blood cultures were drawn following fever on day 8 of hospitalisation. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was cultured and echocardiography showed a vegetation on the mitral valve. Appropriate antibiotic therapy and surgical treatment led to a good outcome of the infection.