Wound Infection With Enterococcus hirae Associated With Cat Litter

We report a case of wound infection caused by Enterococcus hirae in a 60-year-old woman with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus type II. She initially reported to the hospital because of chest pain and fatigue. During her hospital admission, an erythematous wound, measuring 1.5 cm in diameter, was discovered along the medial aspect of her right foot. Debridement of the wound revealed small pebbles, which the patient identified as cat litter. Wound cultures identified E. hirae, a known feline commensal organism and potential pathogen. Her wound was successfully treated with an inpatient course of intravenous ceftriaxone and vancomycin followed by an outpatient course of oral amoxicillin. This represents the first instance of potential transmission of E. hirae from cat to human, as well as the third documented case of E. hirae wound infection and the first in North America.
Source: Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice - Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research