Capnocytophaga canimorsus meningitis and bacteraemia without a dog bite in an immunocompetent individual. Issue 7 (21st July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Riordan, Fiona; Ronayne, Aoife; Jackson, Arthur
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 14:Issue 7(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07-21
• Subjects: infectious diseases -- infection (neurology) -- immunology -- meningitis; Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-242432
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : We describe the case of an immunocompetent 75-year-old man with Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteraemia and meningitis. C. canimorsus is commonly found in the oral flora of dogs with human infection typically occurring following a bite. Unusually, while our patient was a dog owner, there was no history of bite nor scratch mark. Admission blood cultures flagged positive for Gram-negative bacilli, but prolonged molecular analysis was required before C. canimorsus was isolated in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. There is a high mortality rate in invasive infection, and in our patient's case, antibiotic therapy was commenced prior to laboratory confirmation with our patient making a complete recovery. This case highlights the importance of including C. canimorsus in the differential diagnosis of unwell patients who keep dogs, even without a bite. This case occurred amid heightened awareness of COVID-19, which may represent predisposition for zoonoses during social isolation and increased human–pet contact.