Case report, case study

https://doi.org/10.37797/ig.43.2.4

Per aspera ad diagnosis – persistent thigh inflammation caused by a foreign object, masking as Pantoea agglomerans infection

Nikola Šoštar orcid.org/0009-0009-9503-4759 ; University Hospital for Infectious Diseases „Dr. Fran Mihaljević”, Zagreb, Croatia *
Klaudija Višković orcid.org/0000-0002-5927-3201 ; University Hospital for Infectious Diseases „Dr. Fran Mihaljević”, Zagreb, Croatia
Marija Kusulja ; University Hospital for Infectious Diseases „Dr. Fran Mihaljević”, Zagreb, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Pantoea agglomerans is an environmental Gram-negative bacillus most commonly associated with penetrating plant injuries or nosocomial exposure. We describe a 48-year-old man with persistent thigh swelling and pain, initially attributed to an insect bite and treated with multiple antibiotic regimens, with only transient improvement. Imaging and aspiration revealed chronic inflammation with isolation of P. agglomerans, yet targeted antimicrobial therapy failed to achieve clinical resolution of the symptoms. Further imaging identified a retained plant thorn within the muscle, which was surgically removed, resulting in rapid and complete recovery.

Keywords

Pantoea agglomerans; foreign body; soft tissue infections; plant thorn; ultrasonography

Hrčak ID:

350075

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/350075

Publication date:

10.7.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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