Edwardsiella tarda Osteomyelitis in a Patient With SC Hemoglobinopathy

Abstract

Edwardsiella tarda is a recently identified gram-negative organism of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Reports of human infections with E tarda have been infrequent. We review 14 cases of systemic edwardsiellosis reported in the literature and report a case of E tarda osteomyelitis in a patient with sickle cell-hemoglobin C disease. In our case the remains of a snake may have been the source of the organism. Systemic edwardsiellosis is rare, and it may present as meningitis, endocarditis, bacteremia, liver abscess, or osteomyelitis. In 12 of 15 cases reported, systemic E tarda infection occurred in patients suffering from additional debilitating illnesses.