Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Septicemia due to Capnocytophaga canimorsus following dog bite in an elderly male.
- Journal:
- Indian journal of pathology & microbiology
- Year:
- 2011
- Authors:
- Chary, Sowmya et al.
- Affiliation:
- Ramchandra Medical College · India
Plain-English summary
A 67-year-old man, who was generally healthy but had a history of heart issues and high blood pressure, was taken to the emergency room after suddenly developing a fever, chills, severe shaking, low blood pressure, a fast heartbeat, and vomiting. Doctors found that he was in septic shock, a serious condition where the body has a severe response to infection. Tests showed unusual bacteria in his blood, and after asking about his recent activities, it turned out he had been in contact with a dog. Further tests confirmed that he had septicemia, which is a serious bloodstream infection, caused by a type of bacteria called Capnocytophaga canimorsus, commonly found in the mouths of dogs and cats. This case is noteworthy because while many people own dogs, infections from this bacteria are quite rare, and the treatment was successful in addressing the infection.
Abstract
A previously healthy, 67-year-old, man with past medical history of myocardial infarction and hypertension was rushed to the emergency room after sudden onset of fever, chills, severe rigors, hypotension, tachycardia and vomiting. The patient was diagnosed as being in septic shock, and investigations revealed intracellular gram-negative bacilli in polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the peripheral smear. A history of dog contact was elicited after this very unusual and rare finding. Cultures confirmed septicemia due to Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a normal oral and nasal flora inhabitant of cats and dogs that can cause severe and sometimes fatal septicemia in humans. We report this very interesting case because of the common prevalence of dog homeownership and the rarity of C. canimorsus inducing sepsis.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21623093/