[Septicaemia caused by Erwinia herbicola in an 8-year-old boy (author's transl)]

A child suffering from osteomyelitis of the left ankle developed fulminant septicaemia with repetitive isolation of Erwinia herbicola in pure culture. Plants are considered to be the primary source of the infective agent and lacerations as well as stab wounds from thorns might be the port of entry. The boy's septicaemia could be governed by parenteral therapy with tobramycin, cephalothin, and carbenicillin. In the course of his illness, the child has produced antibodies against the homologous Erwinia strain. Typical criteria allowing the identification and differential diagnosis against other Enterobacteriaceae are the lack of the amino acid decarboxylase and dihydrolase activities, the absence of H2S and indole production, the synthesis of a gelatinase and of a yellow pigment. It appears that, although classically thought of as plant pathogens, members of the Erwinia genus can produce infection in man. Therefore they should receive the same attention in hospital hygiene as other opportunistic human pathogens.