Spinal epidural abscess due to Pasteurella multocida infection

Abstract

Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) is a gram-negative coccobacillus that comprises the normal oral, upper respiratory, and gastrointestinal flora of many wild and domestic animals. Disease transmission primarily occurs via animal bites, scratches, and licks on broken skin. P. multocida most commonly causes skin and soft tissue infection and local abscess formation; however, we report a unique case of spinal epidural abscess due to P. multocida infection in a patient with a history of recent epidural steroid injection and repeated cat bites. There is little documentation of P. multocida infection causing spinal epidural abscesses in any patient population, particularly in immunocompetent hosts. This case demonstrates that P. multocida may cause a spinal epidural abscess in a healthy individual without manifesting any other signs or symptoms of the disease process. Thus, it is important to elicit a detailed history regarding animal contact and associated injury. Unless overt sepsis or clinical stability necessitate blood cultures with corresponding administration of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, targeted IV antimicrobial therapy should be initiated after collection and culture of the epidural abscess aspirate.