Pasteurellosis

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Pasteurellosis
Classification and external resources
ICD-10 A28.0
ICD-9 027.2
MeSH D010326

Pasteurellosis is an infection with a species of the bacteria genus Pasteurella[1] , which is found in humans and animals.

Pasteurella multocida (P. septica) is carried in mouth and respiratory tract of several animals, notably cats. It is a small gram negative bacillus with bipolar staining by Wayson coloration. In animals it can originate fulminant septicaemia ( chicken cholera), but is also a common commensal.

Pasteurellosis in humans is associated with a close animal contact, namely a catbite.

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[edit] Types

There are several forms of the infection:

- Cutaneous / subcutaneous disease : this is a septic phlegmon that develops classically in the hand and forearm after cat bite. Inflammatory signs are very rapid to develop, in 1 or 2 hours edema , severe pain and serosanguineous exudate appears. Fever , moderate or very high can be seen alongside with vomiting, headache and diarrhea. Lymphangitis is usual. Complications are possible, in the form of septic arthritis, osteitis or evolution to chronicity.

- Septicaemia : is very rare, but can be as fulminant as septicaemic plague , with high fever, rigors and vomiting followed by shock and coagulopathy.

- Pneumonic disease : is also rare and appears in patients with some chronic pulmonary pathology. it usually presents as billateral consolidating pneumonia , sometimes very severe.

Other locations are possible, like septic arthritis, meningitis and acute endocarditis but are very rare

[edit] Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made with isolation of Pasteurella multocida in a normally sterile site ( blood, pus or CSF).

[edit] Treatment

Pasteurellosis is usually treated with high dose penicillin. Tetracycline and chloramphenicol provides an alternative in beta-lactam intolerant patients.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kuhnert P; Christensen H (editors). (2008). Pasteurellaceae: Biology, Genomics and Molecular Aspects. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-34-9 . 

[edit] External links