Spontaneous peritonitis in a cirrhotic patient with a cat: Pasteurella multocida infection of the ascitis fluid.

Spontaneous peritonitis due to Pasteurella multocida is exceptional. As far as we know only 11 other cases have been reported. We describe a 45 year old patient who presented with a spontaneous Pasteurella multocida peritonitis as the first complication of a previously undiagnosed cirrhosis. The patient used to play with his pet cat, not recalling having ever sustained any injury. Cultures of the cat's mouth grew the same strain of Pasteurella multocida than was found in the patient's ascitic fluid. The clinical findings of the previous cases, most of which were also related to non traumatic exposure to domestic animals, are here described. Pasteurella multocida in one potential agent in the cirrhotic patient presenting with spontaneous peritonitis, especially if in close contact with animals, cats being the most often carriers.