A Case of Fatal Sepsis from Dog Exposure in a Young Stem Cell Transplant Patient

Abstract

Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a fastidious, slow growing (up to 10 days), capnophillic gram-negative rod. It is most commonly associated with zoonotic exposure, particularly dog and cat bites. There is a growing body of literature for the recognition of septic shock caused by Capnocytophagia canimorsus in at-risk populations, including those with asplenia as well as current or previous hematologic malignancy. This is a case of a young man in remission from a hematologic malignancy, complicated by graft versus host disease, presenting many years later in fatal septic shock due to Capnocytophagia canimorsus infection.