Capnocytophaga canimorsus endocarditis

Abstract

Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a fastidious, Gram-negative rod that forms part of the normal oral flora of dogs and cats. Known for its ability to cause fulminant sepsis following dog bites, particularly in asplenic patients or alcoholics, this bacterium is also an uncommon cause of endocarditis. This article reviews 12 cases of endocarditis caused by C. canimorsus. Mean age of patients was 53 years, with 78 % of cases occurring in males. Overall, a history of dog-bite was documented in four cases (33 %) and a further four (33 %) reported contact with dogs. Four (33 %) of the endocarditis cases had underlying cardiological risk factors and two abused alcohol, but none had had a previous splenectomy. Subacute presentation, often involving more than one hospital admission, was common, as were initially negative blood cultures. A variety of antibiotics was used, but penicillins were the most common therapy. Three (25 %) of the 12 endocarditis patients died.

Recomendaciones para el manejo de mordeduras ocasionadas por animales

“…Produce infección en pacientes asplénicos, con insuficiencia hepática o inmunodeficiencias. En estos pacientes se ha descrito un cuadro septicémico de evolución rápidamente progresiva, similar a una meningococcemia; puede producir además endocarditis o meningitis [22][23][24] . El tratamiento de elección es penicilina, siendo además susceptible a clindamicina, cefalosporinas de tercera generación, cloranfenicol, rifampicina, doxiciclina, vancomicina, imipenem y quinolonas.…”

Important emerging bacterial zoonotic infections affecting the immunocompromised

“…Consequences of C. canimorsus infections include sepsis, endocarditis, meningitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and hemolytic uremic syndrome. In addition to dog bites, some cases of C. canimorsus septicemias have been associated with cat bites and scratches, and others have been acquired through mucosal contact with dog or cat saliva [62,71,84,85,109].…”

“…Immunocompromised people are at greater risk for systemic complications of animal bite wounds, including endocarditis and meningitis [21]. Capnocytophaga canimorsus, formerly CDC group DF-2, is emerging as an important cause of dog bite wound-associated disease in splenectomized and cirrhotic patients, as well as those with other immunocompromising conditions [20,46,62,85]. Consequences of C. canimorsus infections include sepsis, endocarditis, meningitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and hemolytic uremic syndrome.…”

Case Report: Capnocytophaga canimorsus A Novel Pathogen for Joint Arthroplasty

“…C canimorsus also has been reported as a cause of endocarditis, mycotic aneurysm, and meningitis [6,7,12,14,19,23,25,28]. The mortality rate is reportedly high (30%) [5,8,9,13,20].…”