Capnocytophaga canimorsis a cause of septicaemia following a dog bite: A case review

SummaryDescribed in this study is the case of a 53-year-old woman who developed a life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Capnocytophaga canimorsus (C. canimorsus), subsequent to being bitten by a dog.The patient presented to an Emergency Department with a 24-h history of diarrhoea and vomiting with dehydration but within 36 h of presentation developed an overwhelming severe sepsis with septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute renal failure, metabolic acidosis and threatened acute respiratory failure requiring urgent intensive care intervention. At subsequent questioning her husband volunteered that she had been bitten on the wrist by the family dog 24 h prior to the onset of symptoms; this bite had been extremely minor, requiring no treatment at the time and leaving only a very superficial wound.The causative organism was finally identified two weeks later as C. canimorsus, a common commensal in the oral flora of dogs. C. canimorsus has been reported as a rare cause of severe infection in susceptible individuals; however this case is of particular interest as there were no apparent predisposing factors conferring risk of severe infection. This case also raised significant practice issues for the treating hospital.