First Chinese case report of Helcococcus kunzii in a patient with diabetic foot

Infection of Helcococcus kunzii(H. kunzii) from diabetic foot wound is rarely reported. This case report describes the infection of H.kunzii and highlights the therapeutic effect on H.kunzii from a diabetic foot wound.

In this study, one H. kunzii strain was isolated from a patient with diabetic foot, which was confirmed by 16S rRNA gene analysis and MALDI-TOF-MS. It is the first Chinese case of H. kunzii in a patient with diabetic foot. As a result of the lack of antibiotic sensitivity data and multiple comorbidities, antibiotics were used cautiously, and those administered during the first 3 months were ineffective. Then, vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) was applied during hospitalization; no antibiotics were used and the wound healed well.

VSD alone may be more effective in treating diabetic feet infected with H. kunzii, which may provide reference for clinical treatment of H. kunzii infection from diabetic foot.