Cutaneous infection due to Bacillus pumilus: report of 3 cases.

Human infection due to Bacillus pumilus is exceptional. We report 3 cases of cutaneous infection caused by B. pumilus that occurred in 3 shepherds, 2 of whom were members of the same family. The lesions appeared to have a morphology similar to that of cutaneous anthrax lesions. Two patients were cured after treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanate, and the third patient was cured after prolonged treatment with ciprofloxacin. To our knowledge, primary cutaneous infection due to B. pumilus has not been reported. B. pumilus should be considered in patients who develop lesions suggestive of cutaneous anthrax.