Epidemiology of human infections by Pasteurella and related groups in France

A retrospective study of infections due to Pasteurella (P.) and related groups was performed between the Pasteurella National Center and Nancy's hospital from 1985 to 1991. Among the 958 cases recorded, wound infections (bites, scratches and punctures) were the common forms of pasteurellosis (66%) caused by P. multocida (48%), P. canis (11%), P. dagmatis (5%), P. stomatis (4%), and in few cases by groups EF-4 and M-5 (14 and 13%, respectively). In human infections unrelated to animal wounds, respiratory tract diseases and bacteremia-septicemia were the predominant infections with respectively 19 and 11%, and caused by P. multocida. Next in importance were urogenital (2.5%), abdominal (1%) and central nervous system (< 1%) infections. The majority of animal bite wound infections was treated with penicillins or tetracyclines; with other forms, penicillins and cephalosporins were more likely.