Haematospirillum jordaniae Infections after Recreational Exposure to River Water, Pennsylvania, USA, 2020

Haematospirillum jordaniae was first identified as a human pathogen in 2016. In this article, we describe 4 patients who had H. jordaniae infections identified in 2020 and who had temporally and spatially linked environmental exposures. Three of the 4 patients reported leg injuries while participating in recreational river water activities in south-central Pennsylvania, USA. In 2024, we detected H. jordaniae in river samples collected at locations identified during patient interviews. All patients sought emergency department services for clinical assessment; however, the causative bacterial isolate was not initially identified. H. jordaniae was identified as the bacterial cause months after patient treatment and discharge. Although H. jordaniae infections are considered rare, the true occurrence is unknown. Additional information about the organism's ecology and environmental seasonality could guide public health messaging and increase awareness among healthcare providers.