Pasteurella multocida respiratory infection. Description of a first seriesin Spain

OBJECTIVE:To know the clinical and microbiological characteristics of a fir st series of 8 patients in whom Pasteurella multocida was detected in sampl es from low respiratory airways, PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with respiratory disease who had positive cu ltures for P. multocida in several biologic samples between 1986 and 1998 w ere studied. Patient's data were obtained from clinical files; microbiologi cal study included microscopic examination, qualitative culture in all samp les and quantitative culture in low respiratory airway samples. RESULTS: P. multocida was detected in 7 males and one female, with a mean a ge of 63 years (range: 6-71). All but one had a previous bronchial disease: 5 had chronic obstructive bronchial disease, 2 had bronchiectasis and one had relapsing acute bronchitis. Three patients referred a previous contact with pets, The main diagnosis, at the time P. multocida was detected, was e xacerbated bronchitis in 4 patients, pneumonia in 2 (one with sepsis and po sitive blood culture to P, multocida) and annother one with empyema, In the only paediatric patient P, multocida was a casual finding. Two patients di ed, both having a severe immunosuppression, The percentage of P. multocida detection compared to all low respiratory airway isolates along the study p eriod was 0.02%. All samples were purulent and more than 10(7) P. multocida colony-forming units/millilitre were detected. All strains were penicillin -sensitive. CONCLUSIONS: Pasteurella multocida respiratory infection is rare, although it is probably underestimated owing to the fact that it is difficult to ide ntify when coexisting with oropharingeal flora. Characteristically, in affe cts old males with bronchial disease are involved and can be lifethreating in severely immunosuppressed patients.