(kap″nō-sī-tif′ă-gă )
[Gr kapnos, smoke, i.e., carbon dioxide, + cytophag(y) ]
A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, long, slender bacilli that may be isolated from the oral cavity of humans and canines and are associated with serious systemic infections, esp. in asplenic patients.
A species that is the main pathogen for humans from dog bites. This organism causes septicemia, meningitis, endocarditis, and, occasionally, ocular infections. Those at increased risk of developing C. canimorsus infections include patients who have undergone a splenectomy and those who abuse alcohol.
TREATMENT
Treatments include penicillins or, in penicillin-allergic patients, doxycycline and metronidazole.
A species that is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen.