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Beware of dogs licking ears

B Godey, X Morandi, J Bourdinière

    Lancet (London, England)
    |October 16, 1999
    PubMed

    Insights

    A dog lick caused Pasteurella multocida meningitis in a patient with chronic ear discharge. Individuals with perforated tympanic membranes should prevent animal ear licking to avoid infection.

    Area of Science:

    • Otolaryngology
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Zoonotic Infections

    Background:

    • Chronic purulent otorrhoea is an persistent ear discharge.
    • Pasteurella multocida is a bacterium commonly found in animals.
    • Meningitis is a serious infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

    Observation:

    • A patient presented with right-sided chronic purulent otorrhoea.
    • The patient subsequently developed meningitis.
    • The causative agent was identified as Pasteurella multocida.

    Findings:

    • The Pasteurella multocida infection was linked to a dog that frequently licked the patient's ear.
    • This suggests a zoonotic transmission route from the dog to the patient.
    • The patient's chronic purulent otorrhoea and likely perforated tympanic membrane facilitated the infection.

    Implications:

    • Patients with perforated tympanic membranes are at increased risk of ear infections from animal saliva.
    • Preventive measures, such as avoiding animal ear licking, are crucial for at-risk individuals.
    • This case highlights the importance of considering zoonotic transmission in ear infections, especially in patients with pre-existing ear conditions.

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