Merck Manual

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Erysipeloid

By

Larry M. Bush

, MD, FACP, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University

Reviewed/Revised Mar 2023
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Topic Resources
  • People are infected when they have a puncture wound or scrape while they are handling infected animal matter.

  • Erysipeloid results in a purplish red, hardened rash that may itch, burn, and/or swell.

  • Doctors diagnose erysipeloid based on culture of a sample of infected tissue.

  • The infection can be effectively treated with antibiotics.

Erysipelothrix bacteria are common worldwide and may infect a variety of animals, including shellfish, fish, birds, and mammals (especially swine), and insects.

People can become infected through a puncture wound or scrape that occurs while handling infected animal matter (such as infected carcasses or fish). Risk is increased for butchers, people who work in slaughter houses, farmers, cooks, and fishermen.

People can also become infected when they are bitten by an infected cat or dog.

Symptoms of Erysipeloid

A purplish red, hardened rash develops at the site of the injury. It may itch, burn, and/or swell. Swelling may interfere with use of the hand. Sometimes nearby lymph nodes become swollen. Symptoms may last for 3 weeks.

Rarely, the Erysipelothrix bacteria spread through the bloodstream and infects joints or heart valves.

Diagnosis of Erysipeloid

  • Culture and other tests of a sample of infected tissue

To diagnose erysipeloid, doctors may take a sample of tissue from the infected skin and send it to a laboratory where bacteria, if present, can be grown (cultured) and identified. If doctors suspect that a joint or heart valve is infected, they take a sample of joint fluid or blood and check it for the Erysipelothrix bacteria.

Doctors may use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique on the sample to increase the amount of the bacteria's genetic material (DNA). This technique helps doctors detect the bacteria more quickly.

Treatment of Erysipeloid

  • Antibiotics

If erysipeloid involves only the skin, doctors usually give people antibiotics, such as penicillin or ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, or clindamycin, by mouth for a week.

If the Erysipelothrix bacteria have spread, doctors give antibiotics by vein for a longer time.

If a heart valve is infected, it often must be replaced.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
Principen
Cetraxal , Ciloxan, Cipro, Cipro XR, OTIPRIO, Proquin XR
Cleocin, Cleocin Ovules, Cleocin Pediatric, Cleocin T, CLIN, Clindacin ETZ, Clindacin-P, Clinda-Derm , Clindagel, ClindaMax, ClindaReach, Clindesse, Clindets, Evoclin, PledgaClin, XACIATO
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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