[Respiratory pasteurellosis. Description of a first series in Spain].

OBJECTIVE

To know the clinical and microbiological characteristics of a first series of 8 patients in whom Pasteurella multocida was detected in samples from low respiratory airways.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with respiratory disease who had positive cultures for P. multocida in several biologic samples between 1986 and 1998 were studied. Patient's data were obtained from clinical files; microbiological study included microscopic examination, qualitative culture in all samples and quantitative culture in low respiratory airway samples.

RESULTS

P. multocida was detected in 7 males and one female, with a mean age of 63 years (range: 6-71). All but one had a previous bronchial disease: 5 had chronic obstructive bronchial disease, 2 had bronchiectasis and one had relapsing acute bronchitis. Three patients referred a previous contact with pets. The main diagnosis, at the time P. multocida was detected, was exacerbated bronchitis in 4 patients, pneumonia in 2 (one with sepsis and positive blood culture to P. multocida) and another one with empyema. In the only paediatric patient P. multocida was a casual finding. Two patients died, both having a severe immunosuppression. The percentage of P. multocida detection compared to all low respiratory airway isolates along the study period was 0.02%. All samples were purulent and more than 10(7) P. multocida colony-forming units/millilitre were detected. All strains were penicillin-sensitive.

CONCLUSIONS

Pasteurella multocida respiratory infection is rare, although it is probably underestimated owing to the fact that it is difficult to identify when coexisting with oropharingeal flora. Characteristically, in affects old males with bronchial disease are involved and can be life threatening in severely immunosuppressed patients.