Human infection with Shewanella putrefaciens and S. algae: report of 16 cases in Martinique and review of the literature

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Jul;89(1):151-6. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0055. Epub 2013 May 20.

Abstract

Shewanella spp. are saprophytic bacteria that are part of the marine microflora in warm climates and are rarely pathogenic. However, Shewanella spp. infections are being increasingly reported, and there has been no comprehensive review of the literature describing these infections. This article reports 16 cases of Shewanella spp. infections in Martinique since 1997 and reviews another 239 cases reported in the literature since 1973. Patients experienced soft tissue infections, ear infection, or abdominal and biliary tract infections. A skin or mucosal portal of entry was found for 53% of the patients and exposure to the marine environment was reported for 44%; 79% of patients had an underlying condition. Bacteriema were frequent (28%). Most (87%) patients recovered, although ear infections can become chronic. Death occurred in 13% of the patients. Most Shewanella spp. isolates are susceptible to cefotaxime (95%), piperacillin and tazobactam (98%), gentamicin (99%), and ciprofloxacin (94%).

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biliary Tract Diseases / drug therapy
  • Biliary Tract Diseases / epidemiology
  • Biliary Tract Diseases / microbiology
  • Female
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Martinique / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Otitis / drug therapy
  • Otitis / epidemiology
  • Otitis / microbiology
  • Shewanella putrefaciens*
  • Shewanella*
  • Soft Tissue Infections / drug therapy
  • Soft Tissue Infections / epidemiology
  • Soft Tissue Infections / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents