Pasteurella multocida is a small gram-negative bacillus commonly encountered in the oropharynx of wild and domestic animals. The organism has been recognized as the causative agent of haemorrhagic septicemia in several species of animals and is associated with fowl cholera.
The most human infections with P. multocida is a local celluitis following animal-inflicted wounds preponderantly cat bites and scratches.
Pulmonary infections with P. multocida are unusual because of lack of familiarity with the organism but are being reported more frequently in foreign literature. The occurence of this organism in the respiratory tract has not previously been described in Japan.
In this report, a 53-year-old Japanese farmer with bronchiectasis is described in which P. multocida was isolated from the sputum on several occasions in significant numbers. This organism was sensitive to a number of antimicrobial drugs in common use today except sulfa drug.
The patient was hospitalized and ST-compound was administered orally 4 tab. per day. Marked clinical improvement was noted, the sputum reduced and cultures of the sputum were negative for pathogenic organism, including P. multocida.
We think, P. multocida might be a possible pathogen in a patient with underlying chronic bronchopulmonary disease or immunosuppression.