An unusual case of diabetic cellulitis due to Pasturella multocida

Pasturella multocida is a well known potential cause of infection following bites or scratches by animals. The organism causes the usual clinical manifestations of a rapidly developing cellulitis at the site of injury. The resultant infection is dangerous and can progress on to a deep infection, osteomyelitis, and septicemia. In compromised patients, the source and etiology of the infection may be obscure making definitive diagnosis difficult. This paper reviews a very unusual case of a foot infection in a diabetic patient that was due to a domestic pet licking an excoriation on the foot.