Aeromonas veronii

Aeromonas veronii is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium found in fresh water and in association with animals. In humans A. veronii can cause diseases ranging from wound infections and diarrhea to sepsis in immunocompromised patients. In leeches, this bacterium is thought to function as a symbiote aiding in the digestion of blood, provision of nutrients, or preventing other bacteria from growing. Humans treated with medicinal leeches after vascular surgery can be at risk for infection from A. veronii and are commonly placed on prophylactic antibiotics. Most commonly ciprofloxacin is used but there have been reports of resistant strains leading to infection.