Surgical Site Infection Caused by Aeromonas hydrophila in a Patient with Underlying Malignancy

Abstract

Aeromonas skin and soft tissue infections in cancer patients can lead to serious life threatening conditions such as cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis and myonecrosis. We report here a case of surgical site infection, post radical mastectomy, in a 58-year-old female with carcinoma breast. Cultures of exudates from the wound grew Aeromonas hydrophila on repeated occasions. Recovery was uneventful following targeted antimicrobial therapy and regular dressing of the wound. Early suspicion, diagnosis, and treatment with potent antibiotics are needed to prevent any further complications resulting from infection by this emerging pathogen.

Keywords

• carcinoma breast
• immunocompromised
• necrotising fasciitis
• radical mastectomy
• surgical site infection