[Fatal sepsis due to capnocytophaga canimorsus after dog bite].

A 56-year-old man was bitten by a dog. 8 days later he was admitted to a hospital because of severe deterioration of his clinical situation. He developed the clinical picture of fulminant sepsis. In spite of aggressive intensive care therapy the patient died 24 hours later. Capnocytophaga canimorsus was identified from initial blood cultures. This gram-negative rod is part of the normal oral flora of dogs and cats. It can be spread to humans by bites, licking or scratches and causes severe infections, especially in persons with special risk factors (splenectomy, alcoholism). The mortality rate in the published cases is 25-30%.