Fatal septicemia with Capnocytophaga canimorsus in a compromised host. A case report with review of the literature

Abstract

Capnocytophaga canimorsus (DF-2) is a newly described gram-negative bacterium that can produce serious infections following dog bites in the immunocompromised host. We are reporting a case of C. canimorsus infection in an elderly patient with a history of chronic respiratory disease and alcohol abuse. We also give a review of the clinical spectrum of the infection, discuss the difficulty in establishing the diagnosis and the preferential treatment.