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Dogs Licks Are Not Benign: Pasturella Multocida Bacteremia From Household Dog
Katherine Hageboeck Shepherd1, Mark Colantonio1, Matthew Santer1
1Internal Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA.
Cureus
|May 20, 2024
Summary
Animal licking can transmit Pasturella (P.) multocida, causing severe infections like septic shock, even without skin breaks. This case highlights the risk of P. multocida transmission through non-bite animal contact, especially with chronic wounds.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Pasturella (P.) multocida is a Gram-negative coccobacillus commonly found in animal respiratory tracts.
- Transmission is typically associated with bites or skin breaks, but non-bite transmission is increasingly recognized.
Observation:
- A case of a nonagenarian female presented with septic shock due to P. multocida.
- The transmission source was identified as her dog licking chronic leg wounds.
Findings:
- P. multocida can cause severe infections, including septic shock, through non-bite transmission routes.
- Literature review confirms transmission via animal saliva without skin disruption can lead to serious complications.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider P. multocida in skin and soft tissue infections, even without a history of bites.
- Awareness of non-bite transmission routes is crucial for preventing severe outcomes, particularly in immunocompromised individuals or those with chronic wounds.
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