Close Canine Contact: A Case of Infantile Pasteurella Meningitis

This case report presents an interesting and rare cause of meningitis in young infants, Pasteurella multocida. Not only is the organism unusual but the well appearance of the infant made this diagnosis surprising. The 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical practice guidelines on well-appearing febrile infants brought a national guideline on the evaluation and management of fever in infants. However, providers should be aware that there is room for shared decision-making and that the guideline will miss a very small percentage of well-appearing infants with invasive bacterial infections.