title: [Pets are a risk for asplenic patients: Capnocytophaga canimorsus infection in an asplenic patient].
abstract: Post-splenectomy sepsis is a serious condition with high mortality rates. We present a case of a 64-year-old patient with a medical history of splenectomy who was referred to the Emergency Department with a fever, shivers, and an altered mental state. The symptoms had started twelve hours before. Upon arrival in the hospital the patient was tachypnoeic, hypotensive and febrile. Blood cultures were taken and broad-spectrum antibiotics were started. He was directly admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with severe sepsis of unknown aetiology. CT imaging did not reveal the source of the infection. A second medical history assessment revealed that the patient had engaged in play fighting with a dog two days previously, which left a superficial lesion on his arm. A Capnocytophaga canimorsus infection was deemed likely and antibiotics were switched to intravenous amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Despite maximal support the patient's clinical condition deteriorated rapidly. The patient died from multi-organ failure fourteen hours after admission to the hospital.
authors: Ziekenhuis Gelderse Vallei, Ede.
authors: R I
authors: RI
authors: Claassen
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Savelkoul
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Schouten
authors: D H T
authors: DH
authors: Tjan
mesh_terms: D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002206:Capnocytophaga; D004285:Dogs; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013156:Splenectomy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination