People who are infected with Capnocytophaga can have a range of signs and symptoms such as: Blisters around the bite wound within hours of the bite. Redness, swelling, draining pus, or pain at the bite wound. Fever. Diarrhea and/or stomach pain. Vomiting. Headache and/or confusion. Muscle or joint pain.
What happens if you get Capnocytophaga?
Capnocytophaga canimorsus may cause severe infection, including sepsis (blood poisoning), bacteria in the blood (bacteremia), and gangrene (dead tissue) of digits or limbs.
Can Capnocytophaga be cured?
Capnocytophaga infection can be treated with prescription medicine called antibiotics. Antibiotics kill bacterial germs like Capnocytophaga. It is important to call your doctor if you have been bitten by a dog or cat or believe that you might be infected with Capnocytophaga germs.
How common is Capnocytophaga infection?
Recent estimates using PCR techniques to amplify bacterial DNA are that Capnocytophaga canimorsus is in the mouths of 74% of dogs and 57% of cats. Although the bacteria are common in household pets' mouths, overwhelming infections with Capnocytophaga canimorsus or “dog bite septicemia” are rare.
How do you test for Capnocytophaga?
Capnocytophaga is a fastidious, gram-negative bacillus. Diagnosis can be made by culture; however, since the organism grows slowly (2–7 days) and requires blood or chocolate agar incubated with 10% carbon dioxide, the diagnosis can be missed.
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