Background: Pasteurella multocida, is a bacterium that is frequently transmitted to humans from domestic pets. Infections are generally localized, but previous reports have exhibited that Pasteurella can cause systemic infections such as peritonitis, bacteremia and in some rare cases tubo-ovarian abscess.
Case presentation: We present a case of a 46-year-old woman who came to the emergency department (ED) with complaints of pelvic pain, abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), and fever. A non-contrast computed tomography (CT) of abdomen and pelvis showed uterine fibroids with sclerotic changes in lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones causing a high degree of suspicion for cancer. On admission, blood culture, complete blood count (CBC) and tumor markers were drawn. Additionally, an endometrial biopsy was performed to rule out the possibility of endometrial cancer (EC). The patient underwent an exploratory laparoscopy with hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy. After diagnosis with P. multocida the patient was treated with five days of Meropenem.
Conclusion: There are few cases of P. multocida peritonitis reported; in addition, findings of AUB with sclerotic bony changes in a middle-aged woman is often associated with EC. Thus, clinical suspicion from patient history, infectious disease work-up and diagnostic laparoscopy are essential for proper diagnosis and management.
Keywords: Abnormal uterine bleeding; Endometrial cancer; Pasteurella multocida.
© 2023 The Authors.