"Cat got your lung?": Case of a trapped lung following cat bite

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Pasteurella multocida is a Gram-negative bacterium known to cause diverse human infections.
• Empyema is an uncommon but serious complication of Pasteurella multocida infections.
• Infections are typically acquired through domestic animal bites or inhalation, with cats and dogs as frequent sources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of empyema caused by Pasteurella multocida.
• To discuss the diagnostic and management challenges associated with this infection.
• To highlight the link between domestic animal bites and severe thoracic infections.

Main Methods:

• Case report detailing a patient with Pasteurella multocida empyema.
• Review of clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and treatment.
• Inclusion of microbiological culture as the gold standard for diagnosis.

Main Results:

• The patient developed empyema attributed to a cat bite.
• The infection led to a trapped lung, necessitating surgical intervention.
• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical decortication was performed for treatment.

Conclusions:

• Pasteurella multocida, acquired from a cat bite, can lead to severe thoracic complications like empyema and trapped lung.
• Prompt diagnosis and appropriate management, including surgical decortication, are crucial.
• Awareness of zoonotic transmission routes is vital in clinical practice.