Aeromonas hydrophila bacteraemia and portal pyaemia.

The Aeromonas species uncommonly cause disease in humans. We report portal pyaemia secondary to Aeromonas hydrophila bacteraemia occurring in a 71-year-old Chinese man with no history of hepatobiliary disease or malignancy. He presented with fever, rigors and abdominal bloating for four days and was subsequently found to have Aeromonas hydrophila bacteraemia, portal vein thrombosis and a psoas abscess. He was treated with ciprofloxacin and had a good recovery. Aeromonas hydrophila infection is an uncommon cause of intestinal and extraintestinal infection in man, but must be suspected in immunocompromised hosts and in those exposed to brackish or salt water.