Pasteurella multocida epiglottitis

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997 Jul;123(7):759-61. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1997.01900070103018.

Abstract

Pasteurella multocida, a small gram-negative coccobacillus, colonizes the nasopharynx and gastrointestinal tract of many animals, including cats and dogs. Most human infections with P multocida are due to animal bites, but the respiratory tract is the second most common site of infection. We describe the third case report (to out knowledge) of acute P multocida epiglottitis. The mode of transmission in this case was inhalation of infectious nasopharyngeal secretions from cats. The patient responded well to treatment with penicillin, the drug of choice for P multocida infections. Therefore, infection with P multocida, though rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis in any case involving acute epiglottitis and exposure to cats.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Animals
  • Cats
  • Disease Vectors
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Epiglottitis / diagnosis*
  • Epiglottitis / drug therapy
  • Epiglottitis / etiology
  • Epiglottitis / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pasteurella Infections / diagnosis*
  • Pasteurella Infections / drug therapy
  • Pasteurella Infections / microbiology
  • Pasteurella Infections / transmission
  • Pasteurella multocida* / isolation & purification