Capnocytophaga canimorsus infections: a possibly fatal complication of bite wounds

Practising veterinarians and their assistants run the risk of being bitten by their patients, mostly cats and dogs, and many have experienced that bites and bite-wound infections can have unpleasant consequences. In recent years, more insight has been gained into a 'new' bacterial infection of bite wounds that not only has severe local effects but also potentially fatal systemic consequences. The bacterium involved is Capnocytophaga canimorsus. All bite wounds should be treated adequately, but this is especially so when wounds are infected with C. canimorsus. In this article, dog and cat bites are briefly described and then an overview is given of current knowledge of C. canimorsus and appropriate prophylactic measures.