A 48-year-old British man was bitten by a stray cat and suffered “painful” swelling on his hands and a “widespread” infection caused by a previously unknown bacterium, according to a new study.
The study was recently published in the journal Emerging Infectious DiseasesDescribes the case of a 48-year-old man who was admitted to the emergency department in 2020 with swollen hands, multiple stab wounds, and abrasions approximately 8 hours after being bitten by a stray cat.
Researchers including the University of Cambridge Hospital in the UK have discovered a new bacterium ball cat This resulted in an “extensive soft tissue infection” in the man bitten by the cat.
Previous research has revealed the potential role of cats as carriers of yet-to-be-discovered pathogens and potentially zoonotic infections that can be transmitted from animals to humans, as bites can cause deep wounds from their long, sharp teeth .
Although the man was treated for a possible infection, given a booster dose of tetanus vaccine, and given several oral antibiotics, and was discharged home, 24 hours later, he returned to the emergency department with severe injuries to his little finger, left heart, and right heart. There is an infection.
Doctors surgically removed the damaged tissue around the wound and gave him three antibiotics intravenously, a treatment that ultimately seemed to work and allowed him to recover.
When researchers analyzed microbes from a swab from an infection in his right middle finger, they found an unrecognized microbe similar to Streptococcusa bacterium associated with strep throat, conjunctivitis, and meningitis.
However, the bacterium’s genome did not match any previously documented strain, suggesting it is a new microbe that had never been documented before.
The researchers then discovered that the new bacteria belonged to a genus of Gram-positive bacteria called ball cat It differs from related strains, suggesting it is a “unique and previously undescribed species”.
Experts pointed out that cat bites can cause deep wounds, and the risk of secondary infection by direct inoculation of its saliva is high.
People are advised to wash cat bites with soap or salt immediately and seek medical attention immediately.
The new findings “highlight the role of cats as carriers of as yet undiscovered bacterial species with human pathogenic potential,” the doctors said.
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