Fulminant septic shock associated with Capnocytophagia canimorsus bacteremia developed in a 54-year-old asplenic man, a heart transplantation candidate who was supported with a HeartMate II left ventricular assist system, after he experienced a dog bite. He improved after administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which were narrowed to ampicillin/sulbactam for a prolonged 6-week course, and subsequently recovered fully.
References
1.
SuzukiMKimuraMImaokaKYamadaA. Prevalence of capnocytophagia canimorsus and capnocytophagia cynodegmi in dogs and cats determined by using a newly established species-specific PCR. Vet Microbiol.2010;144(1–2): 172–176.
2.
OehlerRLVelezAPMizrachiMLamarcheJGompfS. Bite-related and septic syndromes caused by cats and dogs. Lancet Infect Dis.2009;9(7):439–447.
3.
ScullyREMarkEJMcNeelyWFEbelingSHPhillipsLDEllenderSM. Case records of the Massachusetts general hospital. A 42-year-old asplenic man with gram-negative sepsis. N Engl J Med.1999;340:1819–1826.
4.
LionCEscandeFBurdinJC. Capnocytophagia canimorsus infection in humans: A review of the literature and cases report. Eur J Epidemiol1996;12(5):521–533.
5.
AslamSHernandezMThornbyJZeluffBDarouicheRO. Risk factors and outcomes of fungal ventricular-assist device infections. Clin Infect Dis.2010;50(5):664–671.
6.
HayaniOHigginsonLAToyeBBurwashIG. Man's best friend? Infective endocarditis due toCapnocytophagia canimorsus. Can J Cardiol.2009;25(4):e130–132.
7.
SandoeJA. Capnocytophagia canimorsus endocarditis. J Med Microbiol.2004;53(pt 3):245–248.
8.
FrigiolaABadiaTLovatoR. Infective endocarditis due toCapnocytophagia canimorsus. Ital Heart J.2003;4(10): 725–727.
9.
NgaageDLKotidisKNSandoeJANairUnnikrishnan R. Do not snog the dog: Infective endocarditis due toCapnocytophagia canimorsus. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg.1999;16(3): 362–363.
10.
PersCGahrn-HansenBFredericksenW. Capnocytophagia canimorsus septicemia in Denmark, 1982–1995: Review of 39 cases. Clin Infect Dis.1996;23(1):71–75.
11.
DellingerRPLevyMMCarletJM. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International guidelines for management of severe sepsis and septic shock. Crit Care Med.2008;36(1): 296–327.