Capnocytophaga canimorsus: infection, septicaemia, recovery and reconstruction.
A case is presented of a life-threatening septicaemia and associated peripheral necrosing microembolic phenomenon, resulting from a dog lick to an insignificant burn wound. The isolated bacterium was Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a slow-growing Gram-negative bacillus commonly found in dog saliva. Any clinician seeing patients with a history of dog bite/saliva contact and progressive illness should consider this bacterium as a possible offender and take special care to elicit an accurate history, specifically including questions regarding animal contact.
Burns Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia.
Stephanie Chiang-Mei
SC
Low
Burns Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia.
John Edward
JE
Greenwood
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D002206:Capnocytophaga / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000382:microbiology*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents