Rare but Fatal Pasteurella multocida Infective Endocarditis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Pasteurella multocida is a small Gram-negative organism that usually causes a localized infection after exposure to cat or dog scratches, bites, or licking wounds. Invasive infections, such as bacteremia and endocarditis, are very rare yet serious conditions that are associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with major comorbidities. Here, we report a case of a 47-year-old male who presented to the hospital with altered mental status two weeks after a fall and was found to have a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Further workup revealed Pasteurella multocida bacteremia and infective endocarditis. The patient had a complex hospital course with septic shock and acute congestive heart failure with poor clinical outcomes. A comprehensive review of the literature of all reported cases of definite Pasteurella endocarditis follows.