Meningitis and Osteitis Caused by Pasteurella multocida in a three-month old infant

Pasteurella multocida is usually responsible for local infections occurring after animal bites. It can also be responsible for meningitis in infants. A three-month old infant was admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis and hip osteitis. Cultures of cerebrospinal fluid, blood and joint liquid were positive to Pasteurella multocida. Licking from the family dog was the transmission mode in this case. Despite initial neurological complications, clinical evolution was favourable after three weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy followed by an oral administration for three months. Pasteurella multocida meningitis is rare in infants. It can be associated with arthritis, osteitis and septicaemia. Besides animal bites, licking is also a mode of contamination. (C) 2003 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. Tous droits reserves.