Capnocytophaga canimorsus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Capnocytophaga

Kingdom:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Bacteroidetes
Class:	Flavobacteria
Order:	Flavobacteriaceae
Family:	Flavobacteriaceae
Genus:	Capnocytophaga
Species:	C. canimorsus Brenner et al, 1990

Binomial name

Capnocytophaga canimorsus

Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a Gram-negative bacillus (rod-shaped) bacterium that causes a zoonotic disease, most commonly in asplenic patients. It is a member of the normal gingival flora of dogs and cats. It causes fulminant sepsis with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

[edit] Treatment

Treatment is via antibiotics with the possible aid of activated protein C or plasmapheresis in severe cases.

Following animal bites, co-amoxiclav is often given to asplenic individuals to prevent disseminated infection; but in patients who are allergic to penicillins, the combination of doxycycline and metronidazole (to cover anaerobic organisms) may be used instead.

In patients with sepsis, treatment with imipenem, clindamycin, or a penicillin-β-lactamase inhibitor combination (e.g., co-amoxiclav or piperacillin-tazobactam) should be used.^[1] Doxycycline is active in vitro^[2]^[3] but there is little experience in using it in treating sepsis, and in many countries there is no intravenous form available, which suggests that it should be reserved for when no other options are available.

Capnocytophaga canimorsus was previously known as "dysgonic fermenter type 2" (DF2).

[edit] References

^ Jolivet-Gougeon A, Sixou J, Tamanai-Shacoori Z, Bonnaure-Mallet M (2007). "Antimicrobial treatment of Capnocytophaga infections". Int J Antimicrob Agents 29 (4): 367–373. doi:10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2006.10.005.
^ Chraibi DI, Girond S, Michel G (1990). "Evaluation of the activity of four antimicrobial agents using an in vitro rapid micromethod against oral streptococci and various bacterial strains implicated in periodontitis". J Periodontal Res 25 (4): 201–6. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0765.1990.tb00905.x. PMID 2142728.
^ Heimdahl A, Nord CE (1988). "Antimicrobial agents in the treatment of periodontal diseases: special aspects on tetracycline and doxycycline". Scand J Infect Dis Suppl 53: 35–45. PMID 3047856.