Man died 4 years after his cat bit him; bacteria kill it - People - Culture

Man died 4 years after his cat bit him; bacteria kill it – People – Culture

Posted On: December 17, 2022

Adopting a pet is a choice for many animal lovers, especially when it comes to removing these little critters from the streets or trash cans to give them a new life. That’s what one man thought when he saw a pair of kittens with their mother who had been rescued and remained in the shelter waiting for a family.

Henrik Kriegbaum Plettner, originally from Denmark, adopted a cat and its litter in 2018. In the middle of moving into the house, he moved one of the kittens without expecting to bite off a finger. He paid no attention to them, as they looked harmless.

As the hours passed, he saw how his hand was completely swollen. Realizing that the bite was so big, he went to the doctor for answers.

The kitten’s bite worsened his health.

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Many thought that with some medicine and disinfection the wound would be reduced. Quite the opposite: he remained in hospital for a month, where he underwent 15 surgeries to heal his finger and regain mobility.

Once home, I thought things would get better, but… his health continued to decline to such an extent that his finger was amputated.

“He has a weak immune system, pneumonia, gout and diabetes. The cat just bit the vein. When that happened, the wound closed, but the bacteria spread,” her mother was quoted as saying by the ‘Daily Mail’ newspaper.

At the end of 2022, Plettner is not fighting back. FShe died after all the treatments and surgeries she underwent for four years from something she thought was simple at first.

“Go to the doctor after the bite. Don’t think it’s just a cat. Don’t take any chances,” Desirée, the man’s wife, told the British newspaper.

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What bacteria enter your body?

This bacterium is known as Pasteurella multocida and, according to the United States National Library of Medicine (NIH), its presence as a result of animal bites or scratches is very common. Cats have a high carrier rate, between 70% and 90%, followed by dogs with 50%, according to the medical literature.

Complications from bacteria and death are not common., because most people do not even need special treatment. However, population groups are more vulnerable to harm if bacteria enter their bodies.

“High-risk patients include those who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised (ie, patients with diabetes mellitus, asplenia, or cirrhosis), as well as patients with degenerative joint disease or joint replacement,” reported the NIH.

It must be remembered that Plettner’s wounds closed in no time, but the bacteria had already entered his bloodstream and spread, as the doctor explained to the family. His case was compounded by having a “weak immune system” and, in addition, being diagnosed with diabetes.

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The British government medical portal advises that any animal bites should be cleaned immediately. If you notice that the affected area swells and turns red, you should go to the doctor without waiting for appropriate treatment.