title: 'Biting the hand that feeds': fever and altered sensorium following a dog bite.
abstract: Capnocytophaga canimorsus infection is the most severe and rapidly progressive bacterial infection transmitted by dog bite and fortunately is very rare. The authors describe a 68-year-old gentleman who presented in an acute confusional state 2 days after having been bitten on the left hand by a dog. Despite immediate broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, he developed significant sequelae including disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, microvascular emboli leading to peripheral necrosis, widespread local tissue destruction and septic arthritis. Our case illustrates a life-threatening presentation of infection with C canimorsus, which is known as 'the dog bite organism'. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment is key to survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Conquest Hospital, St. Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, UK.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McWilliams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000382:microbiology*; D002206:Capnocytophaga / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003221:Confusion / Q000209:etiology*; D004285:Dogs; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000382:microbiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000150:complications