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Pasteurella multocida Bacteremia in a Patient With Chronic Liver Disease
Jose Orsini1, Vladimir Sabayev1
1Department of Medicine, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Upper Allegheny Health System, Olean General Hospital, 515 Main Street, Olean, NY 14760, USA.
Abstract:
Pasteurella multocida is a non-spore forming gram-negative organism characterized morphologically as coccobacillus. It is frequently isolated from the nasopharynx of domestic and wild animals, and is the most common cause of soft-tissue infection in humans following bites or scratches from dogs and cats. It is easily overgrowth by other flora in the sputum and may be regularly overlook, as it resembles Haemophilus influenzae, Francisella tularensis, and Yersinia pestis. The five species that cause the majority of pasteurellosis are: multocida, septica, canis, stomatis, and dagmatis. Pasteurella multocida is infrequently encounter in clinical settings, although it can cause disease in humans primarily through contact with animals or their mucous secretions. Furthermore, Pasteurella multocida serves as an opportunistic pathogen in humans, especially in those with depressed immune system. In this report, and after extensive literature review, the authors described a patient with septic shock resulting from Pasteurella multocida bacteremia without prior history of animal exposure.
Insights
Pasteurella multocida, a common animal bacterium, can cause severe human infections like septic shock. This case highlights infection risk even without direct animal contact.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Pasteurella multocida is a Gram-negative coccobacillus, frequently found in animal nasopharynx.
- It's a common cause of human soft-tissue infections after animal bites/scratches.
- Often overlooked due to resemblance with other bacteria like Haemophilus influenzae.
Observation:
- Pasteurella multocida is an opportunistic pathogen, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
- The bacterium can cause human disease through contact with animals or their secretions.
- This report details a rare case of Pasteurella multocida bacteremia leading to septic shock.
Findings:
- The patient presented with septic shock caused by Pasteurella multocida bacteremia.
- Notably, the patient had no reported history of animal exposure.
- This challenges the typical understanding of Pasteurella multocida transmission routes.
Implications:
- Highlights the potential for Pasteurella multocida to cause severe systemic infections beyond typical exposure scenarios.
- Suggests the need for increased clinical suspicion for Pasteurella multocida in severe infections, even without clear animal contact.
- Underscores the importance of considering Pasteurella multocida in differential diagnoses for sepsis of unknown origin.
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