Myonecrosis caused by Edwardsiella tarda: A case report and case series ofextraintestinal E. tarda infections

Edwardsiella tarda is an unusual human pathogen. It is primarily associated with gastrointestinal disease, although recent reports of extraintestinal disease are broadening the current understanding of the clinical spectrum o f E. tarda. A series of 11 cases of extraintestinal E. tarda infection is p resented, including the first reported case of myonecrosis in an immunocomp etent patient. Wound infections were the most common manifestation, and 3 o f 5 patients with infected wounds had been exposed to a marine environment. One patient had bacteremia, and the remaining 5 patients developed abscess es that required surgical drainage. Four patients had E. tarda isolated in pure culture, including the patient with myonecrosis. Although it is often difficult to ascertain the contribution of E. tarda to infection when it is isolated as part of a mixed culture, this case series suggests that E. tar da is singularly capable of causing limb- and life-threatening infections.