Capnocytophaga canimorsus

Related Subjects: |Pasteurella Multocida |Capnocytophaga canimorsus |Snake Bites |Dog Bites |Tetanus

Empirical therapy should also be considered for dog bites in the elderly, for deep bites, and for bites on the hand. Capnocytophaga infections are an emerging zoonotic disease that can cause fatal systemic infections in immunocompromised individuals

About

• Commensal bacterium in the normal gingival flora of cats and dogs
• First described in 1976

Characteristics

• Fastidious, slow-growing, Gram-negative bacillus
• Gram-negative bacteria have a fatty outer layer that can make them resistant to antibiotics such as penicillin

Clinical

• Sepsis, PUO, Meningitis, Cellulitis
• Spetic shock, Pneumonia, Phlebitis
• Endocarditis, Urosepsis, Septic shock, DIC

Source

• Commensal bacterium in the gingival flora of cats and dogs
• Bites, licks, or even close proximity with animals

Risk

• Splenectomy
• Asplenia/Hyposplenic
• Alcoholism

Pathogenicity

• Low virulence in healthy individuals
• Severe, even grave, illness in persons with pre-existing conditions.
• Sepsis, meningitis, and post-splenectomy infection after dog bites
• Virulence attributes of catalase and sialidase production
• Gliding motility, cytotoxin production, and resistance to killing by serum complement due to its unique lipopolysaccharide.

Investigations

• Exposure to dogs or cats is the most useful clue
• Culture and labobservation of fastidious, oxidase- and catalase-positive, gram-negative rods with fusiform shape
• PCR can help

Management

• Penicillin is the drug of choice, but some practitioners prefer third-generation cephalosporins or beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations.
• Co amoxiclav is the antibiotic used in dog bites