Pasteurella multocida osteomyelitis of the cervical spine in a patient on chronic haemodialysis.

Osteomyelitis due to Pasteurella multocida has been frequently documented but virtually all previous cases have resulted from direct inoculation of the organism or contiguous spread of local infection, following animal bites or scratches. Infections often occur in patients with serious underlying illnesses. Haematogenous osteomyelitis due to P multocida has very rarely been reported particularly in patients with chronic renal failure. We describe a patient on chronic haemodialysis who developed an acute febrile illness, two months following a monkey bite, caused by haematogenous cervical vertebral osteomyelitis due to P multocida.