Bacteraemia due to Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in a bone marrow transplant recipient - A case report

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius commonly colonises the mucosal surfaces of animals, especially dogs. It is an opportunistic zoonotic pathogen which can colonise humans and cause severe infections in immunocompromised hosts. Methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) has gained public health importance in recent years. We report a case of an 18-year-old female with Hodgkin’s lymphoma who underwent autologous transplant and developed fever spikes on the 6th day post stem cell infusion. The isolate from blood culture was identified by Vitek 2 compact system as S. pseudintermedius. The patient gave a history of exposure to a pet dog, which had died just prior to her admission to the transplant unit. When clinicians encounter isolates that are unusual or uncommon, it is important to consider potential sources of exposure, including animal exposures.