[Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae bacteremia in a child with acute leukemia]

The systemic infections caused by E. rhusiopathiae and reported in literature are very rare, majority evolving with endocarditis. The authors present a child with acute leukemia, to whom the blood culture during a high temperature episode allows to isolate this bacterium, without valvular lesions. The case is interesting because of the arisen bacteriological diagnosis problems and because of the pathogenic aspects of the infection. An animal source contact being absent, we took in account the intestinal carriage which, under the profound depression of the defence (the underlaying disease and the cytostatic therapy) could result in a persistent bacteremia. The treatment with cefazolin allows the infection to be cured.