Pasteurella infections of the head and neck

Infections caused by Pasteurella occur most frequently after domestic animal bites or scratches and in individuals with agricultural or veterinary contact with animals. A serious Pasteurella infection developed in an agricultural worker following tumor extirpation of a head and neck neoplasm. Review of Pasteurella infections in humans disclosed that 31 of 446 reported infections involved head and neck structures. The most serious of these involved the adjacent central nervous system. Surgical drainage combined with parenteral penicillin remains the treatment of choice in these infections. Aminoglycosides are not effective in treating this organism.