Acute epiglottitis due to Pasteurella multocida after contact with a feral cat

Abstract

Pasteurella multocida is a bipolar staining gram-negative coccobacillus that resides in the nasopharynx of many animals, most notably felines. It is a common cause of soft tissue infections following animal bites but has rarely been reported to cause epiglottitis. Here we describe a case of epiglottitis and bacteremia due to P. multocida following exposure to a feral cat. The patient required emergent cricothyrotomy due to airway compromise. He was successfully treated with 14 days of beta-lactam therapy and achieved a full recovery.

Keywords:

• Bacteremia
• epiglottitis
• Pasteurella multocida