Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae endocarditis

Abstract Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a zoonotic gram positive coccobacillus. It is rarely found in humans as an occupational pathogen that mainly infects animal handlers. There are three forms of human infection: localized erysipeloid, diffuse cutaneous form and lastly, bacteremia that could progress to infective endocarditis. We present a case of a 59-year-old male who was found to have E. rhusiopathiae bacteremia that was diagnosed as aortic valve endocarditis with severe aortic regurgitation. The patient was treated with ampicillin-sulbactam then transitioned to six weeks of intravenous ampicillin. This report summarizes a rare organism that causes a serious human infection and discusses its epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment options.