Rat bite fever in a Greek child

Rat bite fever was diagnosed in a 10-year-old boy in a rural area of south-west Greece. The clinical presentation was typical for this disease and the relevant causative agent (Streptobacillus moniliformis) was isolated from blood cultures of the febrile patient. Erythromycin treatment was efficient. Although extremely rare in continental Europe, this infection must be taken into account as a potential hazard of a rat bite.