A 35 year old man comes to the clinic with a skin lesion following a cat bite 1 day back. On examination he was found to have cellulitis of the affected area. Which of the following is the most likely causative organism?: (A) F.tularensis, (B) Pasteurella multocida, (C) Capnocytophaga canimorsus, (D) Baonella henselae
Answer is B. Pasteurella multocida is the common cause of cutaneous infection following cat or dog bite. Pasteurella multocida is a bipolar-staining, gram-negative coccobacillus that colonizes the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of domestic animals. Within 24hrs of bite patients develop cellulitis and bacteremia. Pasteurella multocida is sensitive to amoxicillin, penicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones. Ref: Barlam T.F., Kasper D.L. (2012). Chapter 146. Infections Due to the HACEK Group and Miscellaneous Gram-Negative Bacteria. In D.L. Longo, A.S. Fauci, D.L. Kasper, S.L. Hauser, J.L. Jameson, J. Loscalzo (Eds), Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 18e.