Treatment of Aeromonas hydrophila infection in a deep tissue wound

We report the case of a young woman who sustained a knee laceration in an automobile accident and was subsequently exposed to water. Although properly cleansed and closed, her wound became infected and she was initially treated with a single-dose parenteral cephalosporin. The infection progressed and cultures indicated a polymicrobial infection which included Aeromonas hydrophila. Significant tissue damage ensued and a lengthy hospitalization was required. Aeromonas, although rarely a cause of infection in otherwise healthy individuals, should be suspected in wounds exposed to fresh water.