Pasteurella multocida is an anaerobic gram-negative coccobacillus that is a common isolate from animal bite wound infections. The most common offending animals are dogs and cats, but Pasteurella has also been transmitted by pigs, rats, lions, opossums, and rabbits and isolated from numerous other animals. The organism most often causes skin and soft tissue infections such as cellulitis and abscesses, but it may also cause bone and joint infections, upper respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis, and sepsis. Immunocompromised individuals are particularly vulnerable to developing severe disease, including bacteremia. Fever is present 20% of the time. Pasteurella multocida soft tissue infections may be complicated by tenosynovitis, septic arthritis, and osteomyelitis.

Pasteurella multocida should be suspected rather than the typical causative agents of cellulitis when there is a history of an antecedent animal bite. Often, there will be evidence of the bite, such as a laceration or abrasion, which occurs most often on the upper extremities. Although uncommon, contact with animal saliva through licks has also been reported to be associated with infection.