There are trillions of bacteria on earth. Some bacteria are harmless, and some are even helpful, while others can destroy our bodies. Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is a bacteria that can be found on the skin and in the throat without causing problems, but at other times, it may also lead to an infection that can range from mild to severe.
What Is Arcanobacterium Haemolyticum?
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is a rare bacteria that causes illness or infection. Its most common symptoms include a sore throat in young adults or a skin condition in elderly patients.
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is typically spread through infected respiratory droplets, such as those produced by a cough or runny nose. These droplets must get into the eyes, nose, or mouth of another person to cause infections.
There are two types of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum: a “smooth” type and a “rough” type. The smooth type of bacteria often causes skin infections, while the rough type is more commonly associated with a sore throat.
Arcanobacterium Haemolyticum Symptoms
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum infections typically manifest as flu or strep-throat-like symptoms. In fact, the most common symptom of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is a sore throat. However, other symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Swollen lymph glands
- Skin rash
About one-third of patients with an Arcanobacterium haemolyticum infection may develop a skin rash. This rash usually first appears on the extremities like the hands and feet, then spreads to the back and chest. An Arcanobacterium haemolyticum rash does not cover the face, palms, or soles of the feet, though. The rash has flat, red bumps and may look similar to the rash produced in cases of scarlet fever.
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum may cause a skin infection in addition to a rash, especially in elderly patients. It may manifest in a variety of ways, including:
Cellulitis. Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin. It typically infects the lower legs but can also infect areas like the arms and face. Cellulitis occurs when bacteria enter a cut in the skin. Untreated cellulitis can spread to the bloodstream and lymph nodes, becoming deadly.
The most common symptoms of cellulitis are an inflamed, swollen area that is painful and warm to the touch. Other symptoms may include:
- Blistering of the affected skin
- Chills
- Fever
- Dimples in the affected skin
- Spots on the affected skin
- Tenderness
Chronic ulceration.Ulcers are open sores in the skin that are slow to heal. Chronic ulcers may take longer to heal than normal or recur. Special treatment may be needed to heal an ulcer.
Soft tissue abscess. Soft tissue refers to the supporting tissues of the body like blood vessels, fat, fibrous tissue, and muscle. An abscess, meanwhile, is an area of thick fluid held within a thick pocket. Soft tissue abscesses form when bacteria enter a cut or scrape and infect the tissue under the skin. Symptoms of a soft tissue abscess include:
- Drainage of pus or fluids
- Pain
- A protrusion over the infected area, like a pimple
- Redness
- Swelling
- Warmth in the infected area
Wound infection. A wound infection is a general term for an infection that occurs in skin that has been cut, scraped, or broken in some way. These are commonly caused by germs getting into a wound, and severe cases can lead to sepsis or even death.
Signs that your wound may be infected include:
- A red streak that leads from the wound toward the heart
- Drainage of pus and other fluids
- Fever
- An increase in pain
- An increase in the size of the scab covering the wound
- Redness
- Swelling around the wound that increases over 48 hours after the wound occurred
- Swollen lymph nodes
In patients who are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed, like those with cancer, diabetes, or HIV, an Arcanobacterium haemolyticum infection may also lead to complications such as:
- Bacteremia. Bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream. This doesn’t always lead to infection, but related infections like meningitis, an infection in the tissues that cover the brain, are more likely in immunocompromised patients.
- Brain abscess. A brain abscess is an abscess, or pocket of infection, inside your brain. Those with a compromised immune system are more likely to develop brain abscesses. An untreated brain abscess can lead to severe complications and death.
- Infective endocarditis. Infective endocarditis is a bacterial infection within the heart, including the lining of the heart, the heart valves, or the heart muscles. People with a history of heart conditions are more likely to get infective endocarditis.
- Pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection within the air sacs of the lungs. It may cause chest pain, coughing, fever, fatigue, and nausea. Pneumonia can be life-threatening for infants and young children, elderly patients, and patients with pre-existing conditions.
- Pyothorax. A pyothorax, also called empyema, is a build-up of pus or fluid in the chest cavity occurring due to infection.
Arcanobacterium Haemolyticum Diagnosis and Treatment
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum often has symptoms similar to other conditions like strep throat, diphtheria, and scarlet fever. To properly diagnose you, your doctor will likely swab your throat to do a throat swab culture.
Some cases of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, especially those in otherwise healthy patients, may resolve without any medical care. In general, though, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum treatment includes antibiotics.
Antibiotics are medications that fight bacterial infections. The most common type of antibiotic used against Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is erythromycin. When taken as an antibiotic, erythromycin is administered orally. It is not a penicillin antibiotic, so you will be able to take this medicine even if you have an allergy to penicillin.
If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, use it properly.
- Always finish your course of antibiotics (except in the case of severe side effects)
- If you experience severe side effects, like an allergic reaction, let your doctor know right away so they can prescribe a different option.
- Remember that some antibiotics can be absorbed better with food while others are better to take on an empty stomach. Check the instructions on your prescription.
Arcanobacterium Haemolyticum Susceptibility
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum rarely causes infection, so it’s typically only responsible for somewhere between 0.5% and 2.5% of all bacteria-caused sore throats. Those most likely to catch an Arcanobacterium haemolyticum infection in the respiratory system are teenagers ages 15-18. Men are also at a higher risk of catching Arcanobacterium haemolyticum than women.
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum skin and soft tissue infections, meanwhile, most affect elderly patients, especially those who are immunocompromised. Additionally, a 2006 study showed that 72% of patients who had an Arcanobacterium haemolyticum soft tissue infection also had diabetes.