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Spinal epidural abscess caused by Pasteurella multocida mimicking aortic dissection: a case report
Koji Oh1, Takafumi Inoue2, Toshihiko Saito3
1Department of General Internal Medicine, Kobe City Medical Center West Hospital, Hyogo, Japan. koujioh@gmail.com.
BMC Infectious Diseases
|May 23, 2019
Summary
This case report highlights a rare spinal epidural abscess caused by Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) in an immunocompetent woman. Successful treatment was achieved with antibiotics alone, emphasizing the importance of considering animal contact history in diagnosing P. multocida infections.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
- Medical Case Reports
Background:
- Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) is a common animal bacterium and a known cause of skin infections after animal bites.
- Spinal epidural abscesses are serious infections, and P. multocida is a rare causative agent in humans.
Observation:
- A 68-year-old woman presented with acute, severe back pain and fever, initially mimicking aortic dissection.
- Initial imaging (CT, MRI) was inconclusive, but bacteremia with P. multocida was identified despite no clear animal contact history.
- Repeated MRI with gadolinium contrast confirmed a spinal epidural abscess.
Findings:
- The patient was successfully treated with antimicrobial therapy without surgical intervention.
- This case represents the first reported instance of a spinal epidural abscess caused by P. multocida.
Implications:
- Sudden onset of severe back pain warrants consideration of spinal infections, even with atypical presentations.
- Thorough patient history, including potential animal contact, is crucial for diagnosing P. multocida infections.
- Serial MRI evaluations may be necessary for suspected spinal infections when initial imaging is non-diagnostic.
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