Case report of zoonotic infection of Pasteurella Multocida leading to an early stage empyema after a right upper lobectomy

Abstract A 77-year-old patient who underwent a right upper lobectomy and lower lobe wedge resection presented with a stage two empyema 3 days postoperatively. The presence of a zoonotic disease of Pasteurella Multocida was confirmed postoperatively having undergone a washout of the thoracic cavity and decortication. The patient had isolated P. Multocida within the pleural fibrin only and mucopurulent fluid initially mistaken for post haemorrhagic changes on computed tomography of the thorax. The presence of P. Multocida within domestic animals is a risk to patients who receive scratches or bites. Early wound infection of P. Multocida development may cause only erythema and tenderness around the wound site but can develop into serosanguinous or purulent drainage. In rare cases it has been reported to progress to infective endocarditis (IE) if left untreated, escalating the need for early detection, treatment and further diagnostic testing such as transthoracic echocardiogram to exclude IE.