BACKGROUND: Pasteurella multocida is a gram negative-penicillin sensitive bacterium and is part of normal respiratory microbiota of animals (e.g., cats and dogs) and some birds. Various infections in humans, such as cellulitis, rarely bacteremia, endocarditis, meningitis, and septic arthritis, are a result of domestic cat or dog bites. These infections are rarely seen in an immunocompetent person, without an associated animal bite.

CASE REPORT: We present a case of refractory Pasteurella multocida bacteremia without any animal bite in an immunocompetent person.

CONCLUSIONS: Pasteurella multocida bacteremia has been seen in immunocompromised patients and mostly after a cat or dog bite or scratch but might also happen in immunocompetent humans with only pet licking rather than biting, which might increase hospital and emergency department visits or admissions in the future.

Keywords: Bacteremia, Pasteurella multocida, Thrombophilia