Korean J Infect Dis.  2000 Jun;32(3):248-251.

A Case of Severe Community-acquired Pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Healthy Adult

• Kim TY
• Kim ES
• Kim NJ
• Lee SH
• Oh MD
• Choe KW

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia is characteristically found as a hospital-acquired infection in patients with underlying medical disorders. Few cases of community acquired P. aeruginosa pneumonia have been reported in individuals without underlying diseases. We report a case of P. aeruginosa pneumonia in a healthy 33-year-old man. He visited our hospital because of fever, non-productive cough, and pleuritic chest pain. On physical examination, the breathing sounds were decreased on the right lower lung field. The chest radiograph showed lobar consolidations with a cavity on the right upper lung field. Blood cultures and a pleural fluid culture yielded P. aeruginosa. Despite aggressive management including antibiotics and mechanical ventilation, he died 26 hours after the onset of symptoms. P. aeruginosa should be included in the differential diagnosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia.

Keyword

Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pneumonia; Community-acquired pneumonia; Sepsis

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Chest Pain
Cough
Diagnosis, Differential
Fever
Humans
Lung
Physical Examination
Pneumonia*
Pseudomonas aeruginosa*
Pseudomonas*
Radiography, Thoracic
Respiration, Artificial
Respiratory Sounds
Sepsis
Anti-Bacterial Agents