Fulminant septic shock caused by Capnocytophaga canimorsus in Italy: Case report

Int J Infect Dis. 2018 Jul:72:3-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.04.4319. Epub 2018 May 3.

Abstract

Capnocytophaga canimorsus infection was recently recognized as a zoonosis. We report the first case of fulminant septic shock in Italy caused by this pathogen. The patient, with a history of splenectomy, died at the main hospital in Brescia with a presumptive diagnosis of sepsis. PCR and sequencing on post mortem samples confirmed C. canimorsus as a causative organism. Our purpose is to alert medical professionals to the virulence of C. canimorsus in asplenic and immunocompromised patients.

Keywords: Capnocytophaga canimorsus; PCR; septic shock; sequencing.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Bites and Stings / microbiology*
  • Capnocytophaga / isolation & purification*
  • Dogs
  • Exanthema / etiology
  • Exanthema / microbiology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / immunology
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Purpura / microbiology
  • Rare Diseases
  • Sepsis / immunology
  • Sepsis / microbiology*
  • Sepsis / therapy
  • Shock, Septic / immunology
  • Shock, Septic / microbiology*
  • Shock, Septic / therapy
  • Splenectomy / adverse effects*
  • Young Adult
  • Zoonoses

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents