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Pasteurella multocida
Related Subjects: | Pasteurella Multocida | Capnocytophaga canimorsus | Snake Bites | Dog Bites | Tetanus | Pasteurella multocida | Listeriosis | Moraxella catarrhalis | Leptospira interrogans | Lactobacillus acidophilus | Helicobacter pylori | Haemophilus parainfluenzae | Haemophilus influenzae
⚠️ Pasteurella multocida is resistant to flucloxacillin and erythromycin - so standard skin antibiotics may fail.
📖 About
- Pasteurella multocida → zoonotic bacterium transmitted from animals to humans.
- Most commonly causes infection after dog 🐶 or cat 🐱 bites/scratches.
- Carried in saliva of ~50% of dogs and up to 90% of cats.
🔬 Characteristics
- Gram-negative, pleomorphic, “heme-loving” coccobacilli.
- Fastidious growth, but grows well on blood agar.
🏠 Source
- Normal flora of the oral cavity in cats, dogs, pigs, and other animals.
- Transmission via bites, scratches, or licking broken skin.
⚠️ Pathogenicity
- Soft tissue infection: Rapid-onset cellulitis, erythema, swelling, and pain after animal bite.
- Cat bites: High risk due to deep puncture wounds → can cause abscesses or tenosynovitis.
- Complications: Septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, bacteraemia in severe or delayed cases.
🔎 Investigations
- Culture on blood agar → smooth, grey, non-haemolytic colonies.
- Blood tests if systemic features (WCC, CRP, cultures).
💊 Management
- Immediate wound care: Vigorous irrigation + debridement.
- Delayed closure: Avoid primary closure of cat/dog bite wounds (esp. hand/face) to prevent trapping infection.
- Antibiotics:
- First line: Co-amoxiclav (amoxicillin–clavulanate).
- If penicillin allergy → doxycycline + metronidazole OR ceftriaxone (depending on severity).
- Tetanus & rabies prophylaxis → assess based on history and local guidelines.
💡 Exam pearl: Dog/cat bite cellulitis that fails to improve on flucloxacillin → think Pasteurella multocida. First-line = Co-amoxiclav ✅.
| The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms. |
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