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Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome in a cat with Klebsiella spp. infection
Author(s) -
Cole Laura P.,
Hardas Alexandros,
Priestnall Simon L.,
Tinson Erica W.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of veterinary emergency and critical care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.886
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1476-4431
pISSN - 1479-3261
DOI - 10.1111/vec.13063
Subject(s) - medicine , sepsis , respiratory failure , azotemia , hyperkalemia , pneumonia , klebsiella pneumoniae , biochemistry , chemistry , escherichia coli , renal function , gene
Objective To describe a case of Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome of adrenocortical failure in a cat with Klebsiella spp. infection. Case Summary A 12‐year‐old male neutered domestic short‐haired cat was referred for respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. The cat remained comatose despite successful weaning from the ventilator and developed a Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia. On day 4 of hospitalization, the cat acutely deteriorated with profound hypotension, azotemia, and hyperkalemia, which rapidly progressed to cardiac arrest. Necropsy findings revealed massive adrenal hemorrhage and intralesional bacteria, termed Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome. Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome was suspected to have been the cause of acquired adrenocortical insufficiency and sudden death of the cat. New or Unique Information To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of sepsis causing Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome in a veterinary species.