title: Capnocytophaga canimorsus Sepsis Following a Minor Dog Bite to the Finger: Case Report.
abstract: Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a gram-negative bacillus present in the oral cavities of 22% to 74% of healthy dogs. Capnocytophaga canimorsus has unique virulence factors that enable it to evade the human immune system and cause life-threatening sepsis following a dog bite. We report a previously well 68-year-old woman who presented with septic shock and multiorgan failure following a seemingly minor dog bite to the finger. The patient required intensive care treatment, intravenous antibiotic therapy, and multiple surgical procedures including amputation of the affected finger. The septicemia and coagulopathy that ensued resulted in gangrene and amputation of additional fingers and toes. The purpose of this report is to raise awareness of this organism among hand surgeons when faced with a patient presenting in septic shock and minimal signs at the site of a dog bite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Australia. Electronic address: Nicolas.dedy@health.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Nicolas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Dedy
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coghill
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Australia.
authors.forename: Nanda Kumar S
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Chandrashekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Australia.
authors.forename: Randy R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Bindra
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications*; D002206:Capnocytophaga / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000209:etiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005385:Fingers / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005734:Gangrene / Q000209:etiology; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014034:Toes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Capnocytophagacanimorsus; dog bite; hand bite; hand infection; sepsis