Hemoptysis as the sole presentation of Pasteurella multocida infection

Pasteurella multocida has been implicated as the cause of a variety of respiratory conditions (eg, bronchitis, pneumonia, lung abscess, empyema), but hemoptysis has been noted only in conjunction with other lung conditions. We report a case in which hemoptysis was the sole manifestation of Pasteurella infection. The patient was a middle-aged man with severe obstructive lung disease and exposure to cats. Diagnosis was made by bronchoscopy and high-dose penicillin was required for resolution.