PASTEURELLA-MULTOCIDA EPIGLOTTITIS

Pasteurella multocida, a small gram-negative coccobacillus, colonizes the nasopharynx and gastrointestinal tract of many animals, including cats and dogs. Most human infections with P multocida are due to anima l bites, but the respiratory tract is the second most common site of i nfection. We describe the third case report (to our knowledge) of acut e P multocida epiglottitis. The mode of transmission in this case was inhalation of infectious nasopharyngeal secretions from cats. The pati ent responded well to treatment with penicillin, the drug of choice fo r P multocida infections. Therefore, infection with P multocida, thoug h rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis in any case involving acute epiglottitis and exposure to cats.