Background <p><i>Eikenella corrodens</i> mainly resides in the oral cavity as a part of the human oral microbiota. Infections caused by this organism are particularly rare. We report a case of a left-hand soft tissue infection caused by <i>E. corrodens</i> and <i>Streptococcus anginosus</i>, following the use of a toothpick.</p> Case presentation <p>A 66-year-old Chinese man was admitted to our hospital with complaints of redness, swelling, and pain in the left hand accompanied with fluid discharge from the wound for 5 days. After the patient had eaten dinner and used a toothpick to pick his teeth, he forgot the toothpick containing the bacteria in his right hand while patting a mosquito, that caused an infection when the toothpick poked into the ring finger of his left hand. He was diagnosed with a left-hand soft tissue infection after a series of examinations. Cultures of the drained pus revealed <i>E. corrodens</i> and <i>S. anginosus</i>. After a month of incision, drainage, debridement and antibiotic therapy, the patient gradually recovered.</p> Conclusion <p>This was a serious infection of hand caused by an unusual mode of transmission of pathogens and the smear of pus revealed mixed growth which gave a clue to the etiology.</p> Clinical trial number <p>Not applicable.</p>