Abstract
Pasteurella multocida is a common commensal of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts of animals, especially cats and dogs. It is transmitted to humans through contact with animals.
Bite wound infection is the most common clinical manifestation. Systemic infections are unusual and mainly affect immunocompromised individuals.
The article presents two cases of Pasteurella infection. Wound infection in a 75-year-old female following a bite from her pet cat was associated with bacteremia.
The disease course was favorable with the initial clindamycin treatment despite in vitro resistance. The other patient was a 62-year-old female diagnosed with acute bacterial meningitis with multiple brain abscesses and transient expressive aphasia.
She reported frequent contacts with pets and domestic animals without a recent bite. Hematogenous dissemination of the infection was suspected.
Because of poor therapeutic response, cefotaxime was switched to chloramphenicol which was later switched to a combination of cefotaxime with ciprofloxacin due to anemia. Following 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy and another 10 weeks of oral ciprofloxacin therapy, magnetic resonance imaging showed normal results and the neurological defect resolved.
Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of Pasteurella infection are discussed and leterature is reviewed.