Streptococcal cellulitis following preparation of fresh raw seafood

Abstract

We describe three zoonotic streptococcal soft tissue infections resulting from fresh seafood contact. One was a localized thumb infection with Streptococcus iniae in an immunocompetent healthy young male resulting from a puncture wound from a crab pincer. The other two were cases of ascending upper limb cellulitis associated with bacteraemia in mastectomy patients. One of these infections was caused by S. iniae while the other was caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae, a species that has not been previously described as a cause of zoonotic infection. Hence when cleaning raw seafood, protective equipment should be used to minimize the risk of percutaneous injuries.