Open AccessDeadly case ofPasteurella multocidaaortitis and mycotic aneurysm following a cat bite
Author(s) -
Dennis Dane Cho,
Yaniv Berliner,
David Carr
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
world journal of clinical cases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.368
H-Index - 10
ISSN - 2307-8960
DOI - 10.12998/wjcc.v4.i6.142
Subject(s) - medicine , animal bites , pasteurella multocida , aortitis , mycotic aneurysm , cellulitis , surgery , septic shock , abdominal pain , aneurysm , sepsis , aorta , epidemiology , biology , bacteria , genetics
Animal bites are frequently encountered in the emergency department (ED). Aortitis leading to mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysm is a rare and potentially deadly complication of Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) following an animal bite. We present the case of a 68-year-old male who presented to the ED after falling at home. He complained of weakness and abdominal pain. He was in septic shock and was treated empirically with broad-spectrum antibiotics and intravenous fluids. He reported previous antibiotic treatment of a cellulitis secondary to a cat bite injury to his right thumb four weeks prior. Abdominal ultrasound and subsequent computed tomography scan revealed a leaking mycotic abdominal aneurysm that was surgically repaired. Blood cultures and aortic wall tissue cultures grew P. multocida. Given how common animal bite presentations are in the ED, this case highlights the need to consider aortitis and mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysm in an unwell patient with an animal bite.