# A Case Report onPasteurella multocida Peritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis: When Cats Think Medical Equipment Are Toys

Authors: Saeid Mirzai; Ahmad Oussama Rifai; Aron Tidrick; Qitan Huang; Justin Hale
Journal: Case Reports in Nephrology
 (2019)

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## Abstract

Pasteurella multocida is an aerobic gram-negative coccobacillus usually found in the oral cavities of most healthy cats and dogs as part of their natural oral flora. This zoonotic pathogen can cause a variety of infections in humans through bites, scratches, or licking. Infections range from less severe cases, such as infected animal bites and cellulitis, to more severe cases of pneumonia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, sepsis, and meningitis. However, the number of reported cases of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis caused by P. multocida has been limited worldwide. Here, we report the case of a 59-year-old man undergoing continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis who developed P. multocida peritonitis, believed to be secondary to domestic cat exposure to dialysis equipment. Due to the increasing trend of pet ownership, patients maintained on peritoneal dialysis should be educated on the importance of strict hygiene and avoiding pet contact with the dialysis equipment, especially in bag exchange areas. Although the best means of preventing such infections is to avoid having pets at home, the positive psychological effects of pet ownership should also be considered. Thus, patients in such situations should be continuously educated and encouraged to be mindful of the importance of environmental hygiene.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Aside from kidney transplantation, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis (PD) are two artificial renal replacement therapeutic methods used to treat patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Both methods have their own limitations; thereby, one is not considered superior to the other. However, the application of PD is increasing, possibly owing to its lower cost and usage convenience since it can be performed at home and does not require travel to hospitals or satellite outpatient dialysis units [1].Acute bacterial peritonitis in patients undergoing PD is a major cause of hospitalizations, transfer to hemodialysis, and catheter removal, presenting significant limitations to its utilization [2]. The major pathogens associated with peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PD-peritonitis) are the gram-positive cocci, Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis, accounting for 42% of cases. These bacteria, originating from the skin, move through and along the dialysis catheter [3]. Gram-negative organisms are less commonly detected, accounting for 19% of cases [4]. A rare organism that has been shown to cause PD-peritonitis is Pasteurella multocida, with only 43 cases reported in the literature to date (Table 1).Table 1
Previous case reports on peritoneal dialysis peritonitis caused byPasteurella multocida.
Case
Citation
Year of publication
Age (years)/sex
Etiology of ESRD
Animal exposure
Treatment
1
11
1987
55/F
Hypertension
Cat
Vancomycin, gentamicin
2
12
1991
55/M
Polyarteritis nodosa
Cat
Vancomycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin
3
13
1991
54/M
Hypertension
Cat
Vancomycin, gentamicin, cefazolin
4
14
1991
25/M
Alport syndrome
Cat
Gentamicin, cephradine
5
15
1996
75/M
Hypertension
Cat
Vancomycin, cefamandole
6
16
1996
42/F
Hypertension
Cat
Vancomycin, gentamicin, penicillin
7
17
1997
12/F
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Cat
Cephapirin, gentamicin
8
18
1997
73/M
Chronic glomerulonephritis
Cat
Vancomycin, ceftazidime
9
19
1998
55/M
Polyarteritis nodosa
Cat
Vancomycin, gentamicin, ampicillin-sulbactam
10
20
1998
47/F
Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Cat
Piperacillin, ciprofloxacin
11
21
1999
49/M
IgA nephropathy
Cat
Cefazolin, tobramycin
12
22
1999
18/M
Interstitial nephritis
Cat
Ticarcillin, clindamycin
13
23
2000
69/F
—
—
—
14
23
2000
46/F
—
—
—
15
23
2000
64/M
—
—
—
16
24
2000
22/F
Medullary cystic kidney disease
Cat
Vancomycin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin
17
25
2002
24/F
Chronic pyelonephritis
Cat
Ciprofloxacin
18
26
2004
48/F
—
Cat
Cefazolin, gentamicin, ampicillin
19
7
2004
73/F
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
Cat
Vancomycin, gentamicin, Ciprofloxacin
20
27
2005
52/M
IgA nephropathy
Cat
Amikacin, cefazolin
21
28
2005
21/F
Congenital small kidneys
Cat
Gentamicin, ceftazidime
22
28
2005
58/M
Cyclosporine nephrotoxicity
Cat
Gentamicin, vancomycin
23
29
2006
46/F
—
Cat
Ceftazidime
24
30
2007
48/F
—
Dog
Cefazolin, gentamicin
25
31
2008
29/F
—
Cat
Cefazolin, tobramycin
26
6
2010
38/M
ANCA-related vasculitis
Cat
Ampicillin, levofloxacin
27
10
2010
36/F
Systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus, hypertension
Cat
Ciprofloxacin
28
32
2010
58/M
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Cat
Cefazolin, ceftazidime
29
2
2012
45/M
IgA nephropathy
Cat
Vancomycin, ceftazidime, levofloxacin
30
33
2012
57/M
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
Cat, dog
Vancomycin, ceftazidime
31
34
2013
49/M
Diabetes mellitus
Cat, dog
Vancomycin, tobramycin, cefazolin, ceftazidime, amoxicillin/clavulanate
32
4
2013
7/F
CKD secondary to prior cardiac arrest
Cat
Ampicillin
33
3
2014
62/F
Hypertension
Cat
Ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cephalothin
34
5
2014
25/F
—
Cat
Cefazolin, gentamicin
35
35
2015
28/F
Hypertension, congenital solitary kidney
Cat
Cefazolin, tobramycin, ceftazidime
36
35
2015
37/M
Diabetes mellitus
Cat
Cefazolin, tobramycin
37
35
2015
41/M
Diabetes mellitus, hypertension
Cat
Cefazolin, tobramycin
38
35
2015
51/F
Hypertension
Cat
Cefazolin, tobramycin, Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid
39
35
2015
37/F
Chronic interstitial nephropathy
Cat
Ceftriaxone, amoxicillin
40
35
2015
59/F
Diabetes mellitus
Cat
Cefazolin, tobramycin, ceftazidime
41
35
2015
69/F
Diabetes mellitus
Cat
Cefazolin, tobramycin, ceftazidime, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid
42
36
2017
72/M
Diabetes mellitus
Cat
Vancomycin, ceftazidime
43
9
2018
3/F
Congenital nephrotic syndrome
Cat
Cefazolin, piperacillin, cefdinir
44
Our case
2019
59/M
Glomerulonephritis, failed kidney transplant
Cat
Vancomycin, ceftazidimeP. multocida is an aerobic gram-negative coccobacillus found in the oral cavities of both domestic and wild animals [5]. It is part of their normal oropharyngeal flora, is spread through bites or scratches, and leads to various human diseases. Here, we report a case of PD-peritonitis caused by P. multocida in a patient with ESRD undergoing continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD), believed to be caused by close contact with household cats.


## 2. Case Presentation

A 59-year-old Caucasian man with ESRD due to glomerulonephritis and failed kidney transplant who was undergoing CCPD for 7 months presented to the emergency department with periumbilical pain for several days. This was the first time the patient had experienced these symptoms since the initiation of CCPD. His medical history additionally included hypertension, valvular heart disease, degenerative arthritis, parathyroidectomy, and tobacco use. He had discontinued all of his immunosuppressive medications because his kidney transplant had been nonfunctional for several years.Physical examination revealed a well-built, seemingly healthy man weighing 157 pounds with a blood pressure of 144/92 mmHg and a heart rate of 85 beats/min, without distress, and without jaundiced sclerae. He had clear lungs and systolic heart murmur. Abdominal examination revealed a soft abdomen with some fullness on the right lower quadrant proximal to his previous renal transplant, periumbilical tenderness, and intact exit site with no tunnel tenderness. He had active bowel sounds.Laboratory testing revealed a white blood cell (WBC) count of 9.1 × 103/μL with 70% neutrophils, hemoglobin level of 12.9 g/dL, hematocrit count of 38.5%, and platelet count of 263 × 103/μL. Serum chemistry analysis showed the following levels: sodium 139 mmol/L, potassium 3.4 mmol/L, chloride 95 mmol/L, total carbon dioxide 28 mmol/L, glucose 127 mg/dL, blood urea nitrogen 31 mg/dL, and creatinine 12.46 mg/dL. The peritoneal fluid was colorless and appeared hazy. Initial analysis showed a WBC count of 4,470 cells/μL with 85% polymorphonuclear cells and 15% mononuclear cells. Gram staining of the peritoneal fluid was negative for any organisms, only showing WBCs.Based on the available information, the patient was diagnosed with PD-peritonitis, and empiric treatment with 1 g of vancomycin and 1 g of ceftazidime was administered intravenously and daily infusions initiated. The final diagnosis was made through peritoneal fluid culture that showed light growth ofP. multocida after 3 days. The isolate was sensitive to ampicillin, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin. Therefore, antibiotics were adjusted according to the bacterial cultures, where intravenous ampicillin-sulbactam was started and then switched to oral amoxicillin-clavulanate for a total of 3 weeks. Patient had subsequent improvement in symptoms and laboratory results. He was able to continue PD successfully without any interruption or the need for catheter removal.Upon taking further history, the patient reported having several cats at home, none of which were kittens. At night, he would begin his PD treatment and go into a different room to watch television. Therefore, the cats were assumed to play with the dialysis equipment or chew on the tubing, possibly leading to infection, although the patient did not recall noticing any fluid leakage from the tubing. Prior to discharge, the patient’s dialysis technique was confirmed by direct observation, and aseptic technique was ensured. The patient additionally decided to place his cats outside the home at night before starting PD treatment. He did not have any more episodes of PD-peritonitis caused byP. multocida after changing his routine.


## 3. Discussion

P. multocida is an aerobic gram-negative coccobacillus found as one of the normal upper respiratory flora in various domestic animals, particularly cats and dogs. It was named after Louis Pasteur who first described the organism in 1880 [3]. The pathogen can lead to a wide variety of human conditions ranging from less severe cases such as infected animal bites and cellulitis to more severe cases of pneumonia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, sepsis, and meningitis. These severe conditions are more likely to occur in immunocompromised individuals due to the opportunistic nature of the organism [6]. PD-peritonitis secondary to P. multocida is very rare, with only 43 reported cases worldwide (Table 1).The first case of PD-related peritonitis caused byP. multocida was reported by Paul and Rostand in Alabama in 1987 where the patient had acquired the infection from cat bites or scratches to the dialysis tubing [7]. Since then, the number of such cases reported in the literature is continuously increasing. This could be related to the growing population of ESRD patients, and the corresponding increase in PD as a home modality, indicating a correlation between home environment and medical therapy. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, an increasing number of households are housing pets, with 30% of households owning two or more cats and 36% of households owning one or more dogs in 2012 [8]. This has led to an increasing risk of zoonotic transmitted infections over time.The current literature on PD-peritonitis caused byP. multocida is summarized in Table 1, with the vast majority of cases acquired from cats and a small number from dogs. The prevalence of colonization with P. multocida has also been higher in cats (70–90%) than in dogs (50–66%), made worse by the sharper teeth found in cats [6]. Additionally, 20% of cats are found to have Pasteurella spp. on their claws [2]. The organism is spread through bites, scratches, and licking. The most common method which causes P. multocida PD-peritonitis is close contact of the cats with the dialysis equipment, including the tubing or bags; however, it can also spread through patients with pets who do not practice proper hygiene when preparing their treatment [4].With regard to the types of PD, PD-peritonitis caused byP. multocidamore commonly occurs in patients utilizing CCPD than in those using continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). This is possibly secondary to the length of tubing required or the prolonged amount of time the equipment is in contact with the environment as compared to CAPD. Cats may also enjoy the warmth of the heat plate and lay on the dialysis machine [9].Although the majority of cases had direct contact with animals, there have been cases with no cat contact, or spontaneous cases in immunocompromised patients or those who have chronic diseases (such as malignancy, cirrhosis, diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus infection, chronic pulmonary disease, ESRD) [7]. Additionally, studies showing spontaneous oropharyngeal colonization in healthy livestock breeders indicated the possibility of colonization in patients who have housed pets for long periods of time [4]. Therefore, improper hygiene could lead to the spread of the organism from the patient’s own saliva to their hands and dialysis equipment [5].In terms of presentation, no specific clinical signs are typically present to differentiateP. multocida peritonitis from other etiologies [4]. Therefore, history taking is important in order to find out whether the patient has any pets and whether those pets have access to the dialysis equipment. Typical symptoms of peritonitis include low-to-moderate-grade fever, severe abdominal pain, and cloudy dialysate, in addition to occasional nausea and vomiting. Peripheral WBC count may be normal or show severe leukocytosis with increased polymorphonuclear leukocyte levels, and peritoneal dialysate WBC count is usually very high. Gram staining of the dialysate is usually negative, as it was in our patient [6]. Symptoms typically begin within 24 hours and improve within 48–96 hours after initiating the antibiotic therapy [5].PD-peritonitis caused byP. multocida is usually susceptible to penicillin, which is considered the treatment of choice. Tetracyclines, cephalosporins (third- or later-generations), and fluoroquinolones are considered alternatives. Its susceptibility to aminoglycosides varies [7]. The typical duration of treatment is estimated to be 3 weeks according to the current literature, and the preferred route of administration is intraperitoneal [6]. PD-peritonitis prevention through proper hygiene and technique, or immediate treatment upon its occurrence, is critical due to the risk of possible peritoneal membrane failure because of severe and prolonged peritonitis. This is a major cause of PD termination and switching to hemodialysis [2]. Most cases of PD-peritonitis caused by P. multocida are resolved without catheter removal; however, the catheter should be removed if the patient continues to have cloudy effluent after an appropriate antibiotic treatment for 5 days, indicating refractory peritonitis [2].P. multocida is a rare organism that causes PD-associated peritonitis in patients who keep pets, especially cats, in the environment where PD is performed. With the increasing trend of pet ownership, PD patients should be educated on the importance of strict hygiene and avoiding pet contact with dialysis equipment, especially in bag exchange areas [7]. The best method of preventing these infections is to avoid having pets at home by possibly relocating them with friends or family members while the patient is on dialysis. However, the positive psychological effects of pets on the patients’ health should be considered [10]. Therefore, pet contact with dialysis equipment should be prevented and environmental hygiene maintained in patients who wish to have their pets at home. Additionally, patients should be continuously educated and encouraged to be cautious, especially during their switch from CAPD to CCPD [2].



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