Meningitis caused by Capnocytophaga canimorsus in a COVID-19 patient: a rare complication of dog bites

Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a gram-negative rod that is part of the commensal microbiota of dogs' and cats' mouths. In this case, we report an 85-year-old man with COVID-19 who had his right arm bitten by a dog. His symptoms were impaired consciousness, agitation and aggressive behavior....

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Published inRevista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo Vol. 64; pp. e33 - 5
Main Authors Farias, Luís Arthur Brasil Gadelha, Stolp, Ângela Maria Veras, Bandeira, Silviane Praciano, Mesquita, Rafael Ferreira, Bessa, Pedro Pinheiro de Negreiros, Holanda, Pablo Eliack Linhares de, Costa, Silvia Figueiredo, Takeda, Christianne Fernandes Valente, Perdigão Neto, Lauro Vieira
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Portuguese
Published Brazil Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo 01.01.2022
Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
Subjects
Aggressiveness
Animal bites
Blood
Case Report
Cats
Consciousness
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Discrimination
Disease transmission
Dogs
Hospitalization
Immunocompetence
Intensive care
Meningitis
Microbiota
Microorganisms
Patients
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Streptococcus infections
TROPICAL MEDICINE
COVID-19
Meningitis
SARS-CoV-2
Capnocytophaga canimorsus
Dog
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Summary:Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a gram-negative rod that is part of the commensal microbiota of dogs' and cats' mouths. In this case, we report an 85-year-old man with COVID-19 who had his right arm bitten by a dog. His symptoms were impaired consciousness, agitation and aggressive behavior. Physical examination revealed neck stiffness and Brudzinski's sign. The cerebrospinal fluid culture was compatible with Capnocytophaga canimorsus. He required intensive care and received a 14-day prescription of meropenem. After 40 days of hospitalization, the patient was fully recovered and was discharged. This case highlights the importance of physician and microbiologist be awareness of this disease, mainly in patients with neurological symptoms after a dog or cat bite.
Bibliography:CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
The authors report no conflict of interests.
ISSN:1678-9946
0036-4665
1678-9946
DOI:10.1590/S1678-9946202264033