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Pasteurella multocida pneumonia in a man with AIDS and nontraumatic feline exposure
J J Drabick1, R A Gasser, N B Saunders
1Department of Bacterial Diseases, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC 20307-5100.
Abstract:
A case of acute pneumonia due to Pasteurella multocida ssp multocida occurred in a young man with AIDS and chronic sinusitis. The pneumonia was diagnosed by bronchoscopy and responded to treatment with aztreonam. Epidemiologic investigation revealed the case was temporally related to nontraumatic exposure to cat secretions that the patient presumably had acquired via an aerosol. The cat's oral cavity was cultured and an isolate of P multocida ssp multocida with identical biochemical reactions, DNA restriction patterns, and nearly identical fatty acid profile to that of the patient's isolate was obtained suggesting they were identical strains and therefore epidemiologically linked. A control strain with identical biochemical reactions and antibiotic sensitivities exhibited different patterns. To our knowledge, this is the first such reported infection in a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus.
Insights
This is the first reported case of Pasteurella multocida pneumonia in an individual with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The infection was linked to aerosolized cat secretions, highlighting a potential zoonotic transmission route.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Pasteurella multocida is a common bacterium found in animal saliva, but infections in humans are rare.
- Individuals with compromised immune systems, such as those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), are more susceptible to opportunistic infections.
Observation:
- A young man diagnosed with AIDS and chronic sinusitis developed acute pneumonia.
- The pneumonia was successfully treated with aztreonam.
- Epidemiological investigation suggested a link to non-traumatic exposure to cat secretions, likely via aerosol transmission.
Findings:
- The causative agent was identified as Pasteurella multocida subspecies multocida.
- Genetic and biochemical analysis confirmed the isolate from the patient was identical to the strain isolated from the cat's oral cavity.
- This molecular and biochemical similarity strongly suggests epidemiological linkage and zoonotic transmission.
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential, previously unreported, zoonotic transmission of Pasteurella multocida to an immunocompromised individual.
- It underscores the importance of considering animal contact, particularly with cats, as a source of infection in patients with AIDS.
- Further research may be warranted to understand the prevalence and risk factors associated with Pasteurella multocida infections in immunocompromised populations.