Pasteurella multocida Infection of the Calf in a Patient Who had Moxa Cautery Treatment for Degenerative Arthritis

Pasteurella multocida infection in man is rare. This organism was isolated from a calf infection of a 48-year-old woman with degenerative arthritis who had the history of treatments with prednisolone, acupuncture and moxa cauterization. She did not have any animal contact. It was condsidered probable that the organism invaded through the cauterization ulcers. The organism was difficult to identify, because of its superficial resemblance to other organisms. Oxi/Ferm and N/F systems failed to identify the isolate. The organism was susceptible to many antimicrobial agents tested except to amikacin and clindamycin.