Enterococcus hirae Bacteremia Associated With Traumatic Soft Tissue Infection: A Case Report

In recent years, reports of <i>Enterococcus hirae</i> infections in humans have increased. Similarly to most known Enterococci, <i>E. hirae</i> has been identified mostly in bacteremia, urinary tract infections, infective endocarditis, and biliary tract infections. We present a case of <i>E. hirae</i> bacteriemia associated with traumatic soft tissue infection in a 77-year-old male patient, a polytrauma victim with a tibia-fibula open fracture after a forklift accident. Initially, the patient underwent a left below-the-knee amputation but it evolved poorly, with necrosis of the surgical stump. Debridement and antibiotics were started. Blood and soft tissue cultures identified <i>E. hirae</i>. An above-the-knee amputation was necessary, and the patient improved satisfactorily. Our case study helps to confirm the unexpected <i>E. hirae</i> in humans as well as report an unusual source of infection of this pathogen. Further studies and more case reports are needed to elucidate the clinical impact of <i>Enterococcus hirae</i> on humans.