Pasteurella multocida infection: a differential retrospective study of 482 cases of P. multocida infection in patient of different ages.

BACKGROUND

There is limited data regarding the sources of human Pasteurella multocida infection, characteristics of infected populations, and the antibiotic resistance patterns of human strains.

METHODS

Through the multi-database platforms, we conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of 482 reported cases of Pasteurella multocida from the world since from 1964 to 2023, including the sources of infection, sex and age distribution of infected individuals, and the clinical manifestations of infection in different age groups. Additionally, we evaluated the antibiotic susceptibility of different strains of the bacterium.

RESULTS

P. multocida infection is mainly involved in infants and the elderly population, and it is closely related to animal exposure (cats 54.1%, dogs 29%), especially cat-related infections in adults and older are significantly more common than in children (P = 0.005, P < 0.001). Infection with P. multocida can cause local redness of the skin and soft tissue (11.6%), and also progress to systemic infection, like central nervous system (14.5%), especially in children, Cardiovascular system (29.3%), respiratory system (21.4%), digestive system (12.9%), urogenital system (2.9%) and bone and joint infections (5%). In terms of treatment, first-line treatment is priority to with penicillin. However there are also resistance to Penicillins and β-lactam antibiotics (18 cases were reported), and strains derived from wounds, blood and respiratory tract are resistant to multiple antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

P. multocida primarily causes infections through cats and dogs in different age groups, leading to various clinical manifestations and outcomes. It is generally sensitive to penicillin antibiotics but exhibits varying resistance among strains of different clinical origins. Studying these aspects is crucial to raise awareness about preventing P. multocida infections and to standardize clinical treatment approaches.