[A case of Pasteurella multocida infection in bronchiectasis].

Pasteurella multocide (P. multocida), a small gram-negative bacillus, has been known to be the causative agent of hemorrhagic septicemia in animals. P. multocida infection in human was reported as skin abscess and/or septicemia after an animal bit or scratch. Pulmonary infections of P. multocida have been developed in the patients with chronic pulmonary diseases such as bronchiectasis. In Japan, however, P. multocida respiratory tract infections are rare. In this report, a 80-year-old female with bronchiectasis was admitted on August, 1985. She had a productive cough, hemosputum, and a low grade fever. The chest X-P on admission showed an atelectasis of the left middle lobe and severe bronchiectatic changes of the left lower lobe. P. multocida was isolated from her sputa. The chemotherapy of CTM resulted in clinical improvement. On May 1988, she complained of a productive cough and a low grade fever again. P. multocida was isolated from the sputum on several occasions in significant numbers (1 x 10(8)/ml). Recently, the cases of the chronic respiratory diseases have been increasing. We think, P. multocida is important and should be considered as a pathogen in the care of chronic pulmonary diseases.