Acute Cholecystitis with Bacteremia Caused by Pasteurella multocida

BACKGROUND: Pasteurella multocida is a commensal organism present in the oral cavities of many animals. It can cause various infections including soft tissue, joint, and respiratory infections in human beings, but intra-abdominal infection by P. multocida is rare. We report our experience with a case of acute cholecystitis with bacteremia caused by P. multocida. CASE REPORT: The patient was a 39-year-old female who underwent emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. The patient's blood and bile cultures were positive for P. multocida. She kept a dog and a cat as pets, but denied having had any bites or major scratches. Our investigation did not find that she had any sign of other potential sources of infection. CONCLUSION: Acute cholecystitis can be a primary source of Pasteurella bacteremia in a previously healthy, young patient.