Shewanella putrefaciens is a Gram-negative bacillus with a distinguishable characteristic of hydrogen sulfide production and routinely found in a marine environment. This organism has been cultured as a pathogen in a small number of soft tissue infections, but has rarely been the causative agent in osteomyelitis. This case report details calcaneal osteomyelitis due to S putrefaciens in a 77-year-old male with bilateral heel ulcerations and peripheral vascular disease.
HoltHMGahrn-HansenBBruunB. Shewanella algae and Shewanella putrefaciens: clinical and microbiological characteristics. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2005;11:347-352.
2.
KhasheSJandaJM. Biochemical and pathogenic properties of Shewanella alga and Shewanella putrefaciens. J Clin Microbiol. 1998;36:783-787.
3.
ChenYSLiuYCYenMY. Skin and soft tissue manifestations of Shewanella putrefaciens infection. Clin Infect Dis. 1997;25:225-229.
4.
SharmaKKKalawatU. Emerging infections: Shewanella—a series of five cases. J Lab Physicians. 2010;2:61-65.
5.
YoheSFishbainJTAndrewsM. Shewanella putrefaciens abscess of the lower extremity. J Clin Microbiol. 1997;35:3363.
6.
LevyPYTessierJL. Arthritis due to Shewanella putrefaciens. Clin Infect Dis. 1998;26:536.
7.
RogerSDChenSCLawrenceSSorrellTC. Pseudomonas putrefaciens bacteraemia in a peritoneal dialysis patient. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 1991;6:73.
8.
TsaiTHYouHY. Necrotizing fasciitis caused by Shewanella putrefaciens in a uremic patient. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2006;39:516-518.
9.
GressierMMbayoDDeramondHGradosFEbFCanarelliB. First case of human spondylodiscitis due to Shewanella algae. Int J Infect Dis. 2010;14(suppl 3):e261-e264.
10.
PopeTLTeagueWGJrKossackRBraySTFlanneryDB. Pseudomonas sacroiliac osteomyelitis: diagnosis by gallium citrate Ga 67 scan. Am J Dis Child. 1982;136:649-650.