Acinetobacter calcoaceticus foot infection secondary to high-pressure injection injury: a case report

Injection injuries are surgical emergencies occurring most often in the hand and frequently associated with widespread tissue necrosis and infection. This report presents a case of high-pressure injection injury of the foot associated with extensor hallucis longus laceration and infection with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus variant anitratus. This injury occurred with a high-pressure "water-blaster" tool used to remove paint from pavement. Similar injuries in the foot have not been reported. A. calcoaceticus is a widely distributed normal flora of low virulence, often waterborne, which is rarely found in orthopaedic infections in young healthy patients. Clinical features of high-pressure injection injuries, principles of treatment, and the characteristics of A. calcoaceticus are reviewed.