Pasteurella multocida keratitis and corneal laceration from a cat scratch

A 24-year-old woman was evaluated 12 hours after she sustained a cat scratch to her left eye. Slit-lamp examination revealed a Seidel-positive corneal laceration with a surrounding dense full-thickness corneal ulcer and severe inflammatory reaction. Since the anterior chamber was well formed, it was decided not to repair the laceration on an emergency basis. She was initially treated with intensive topical fortified tobramycin and vancomycin, and intravenous gentamicin and clindamycin. Cultures of the corneal ulcer revealed Pasteurella multocida and the antibiotic regimen was adjusted appropriately. The laceration healed without surgery, and the infection resolved well, with excellent visual acuity.