Pasteurellosis is caused by Pasteurella multocida, an inhabitant of the healthy nasopharynx of some birds and also the causative agent of avian cholera.
Pasteurella organisms are transmissible to humans via bites or scratches from pet birds.
Infected wounds in humans are usually red and painful, but the physical findings may lead one to underestimate the severity of infection.
Transmission via respiratory droplets is rare but may cause acute or subacute bronchitis, pneumonia, or septicemia.
Diagnosis: skin or soft tissue culture(may be mistaken for other bacterial species)
Treatment: Penicillin VK, amoxicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, quinolones, doxycycline, advanced cephalosporins, or carbanapenems.
MICROBIOLOGY:
-Member of the family Pasteurellacae which consists of Haemophilus, Actinobacillus, and pasteurella.
-Small(cocci to small bacilli), Gram negative, non-spore-forming, non motile, and aerobic or facultative anaerobic bacilli. Most have fastidious growth needs.
-Pasteurella Multocida causes 3 classic forms of infections:
- Cellulitis after animal bite, scratch
- Exacerbation of chornic pulmonary disease
- Systemic infection in immunocompromised patients, particularly those with underlying hepatic disease
-Can be readily isolated on blood or chocolate agar, causes musty odor
Pasteurella Species associated with human diseases
| PRIMARY DISEASES |
P. multocida | Bite wounds, COPD exacerbation, bacteremia, meningitis |
P. betti | Opportunistic infections(abscesses, bite woundsm urogenital infections, bacteremia) |
P. caballi | Wound infections |
P. dagmatis | Bite wounds |
P. stomatis | Bite wounds |
