Respiratory pasteurellosis: infection or colonization?

Respiratory infection by Pasteurella multocida is uncommon and usually occurs in patients with an underlying lung disease, advanced age and/or immunodepression. In this study, we describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics of a series of 14 patients in whom Pasteurella multocida was isolated from lower respiratory tract samples, over a period of 21 y (1986-2006). Differentiation between colonization and infection allows establishment of early antibiotic treatment.