Infectious Disease Compendium

Eikenella corrodens

Microbiology

Small gram-negative rods. About half with have a pit in the middle of the agar colonies.

Epidemiologic Risks

Mouth flora.

Syndromes

It may be found where ever aspiration or spit is found.

It is a cause of HACEK endocarditis (it's the E).

It is part of infections after some poor drunken fool punches another drunken fool in the mouth and ends up with a hand infection (see Bites, human).

Needle lickers have had osteomyelitis (PubMed).

Treatment

Ampicillin, or a third-generation cephalosporin, or tetracycline

Notes

It is not treated by first-generation cephalosporins, such as you might give to the above mentioned drunken fool who presents to you ER with a hand infection and an allergy to penicillin. See Human Bite for further information.

Curious Cases

Relevant links to my Medscape blog

Starting a New Pentad

Last Update: 04/26/18.