Pleural empyema caused by Pasteurella multocida in a patient with active pleural tuberculosis: an unusual case in an apparently immunocompetent host

Abstract

Pasteurella multocida is a gram-negative coccobacillus that is part of the oropharyngeal microbiota of birds and mammals, particularly cats and dogs. The most frequent infections involve the skin and soft tissues, while pleural infections are very uncommon. We report the case of a previously healthy adolescent, with a history of exposure to a domestic cat, who developed a pleural empyema caused by P. multocida in coinfection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient received targeted antibacterial and treatment for both infections, with a favorable clinical outcome. To our knowledge, this would be the first reported case of pleural coinfection by P. multocida and M. tuberculosis.