Recovery of Vandammella animalimorsus from an immunocompetent female patient following cat bite to the lower leg

Future Microbiol. 2024 Aug 12;19(12):1049-1054. doi: 10.1080/17460913.2024.2357966. Epub 2024 Jul 17.

Abstract

We report a case of Vandammella animalimorsus in an adult female patient following a cat scratch/bite. Animal bite/scratches may lead to zoonotic transmission of bacteria that subsequently lead to infection. Wound management and antimicrobial therapy is often necessary. The organism was initially misidentified as Neisseria animaloris/zoodegmatis and highlights the difficulty of correctly identifying some bacteria in clinical microbiology laboratories.

Keywords: Vandammella animalimorsus; antimicrobial; bite; cat; infection; scratch; wound.

Plain language summary

Dogs and cats carry bacteria that are not carried in humans. Dog and cat bites or scratches may lead to these bacteria being spread to humans. This can lead to infection. These infections are usually treated by wound care and antibiotics. We describe a case of infection in a human with a bacteria from a cat following a cat bite/scratch to the patient's leg and discuss how the infection was diagnosed and treated.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bites and Stings* / complications
  • Bites and Stings* / microbiology
  • Cats
  • Enterobacteriaceae / isolation & purification
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / diagnosis
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / drug therapy
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leg / microbiology
  • Leg / pathology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents