Detection of Enterococcus hirae in a case of acute osteomyelitis

Abstract

Enterococci are important microorganisms of the gut microbiome in many mammals and cause millions of infections annually. An increasing resistance to antibiotics has led to their emergence as superinfecting nosocomial pathogens in humans. Enterococcus hirae is rarely identified in humans. In this study, we present a case of the polymicrobial osteomyelitis involving Enterococcus hirae in a 33-year-old male patient with traumatic tibia-fibula fracture after a motor vehicle accident. He underwent a right below-the-knee amputation and antibiotics with excellent improvement. Our case study helps to confirm the unexpected presence of Enterococcus hirae in a human specimen. Further studies are needed to elucidate the clinical implications of Enterococcus hirae.

Keywords

• Enterococcus hirae
• osteomyelitis
• trauma, fracture
• VITEK 2