The Clinical Significance of Aeromonas hydrophila

Abstract

STRAINS of the genusAeromonas, motile gram-negative rods, are isolated commonly from marine animals, soil, and food products.^1-3Rarely have they been implicated in human disease, in part because of a lack of awareness of their potential human pathogenicity and a failure to use appropriate diagnostic screening tests. In 1963 Meeks emphasized these points when reporting her experiences withAeromonasat the West Haven Veterans Administration Hospital.⁴The isolation ofA hydrophilafrom two patients at the University of Washington Hospital within one week has alerted us to the possible clinical significance of this organism and forms the basis of this report. Case 1. —A 5-year-old girl with known lymphoblastic leukemia since April 1964 was referred to the Clinical Research Center at the University of Washington Hospital on July 9, 1965, for possible bone marrow transplantation. During the most of the 15 months before admission, the disease was