Community-acquired necrotizing pneumonia with bacteremia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a patient with emphysema: An autopsy case report

• DOI: 10.1016/j.resinv.2017.12.008
• Publication Date: 2018-01-12T19:36:53Z
• Authors: Naoya Sakamoto; Kyohei Tsuchiya; Mayu Hikone
• Keywords: Bacteremia; Diffuse alveolar damage

We report the case of a 47-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who was referred to our hospital for acute dyspnea. The radiologic findings revealed consolidation with a cavity in the left upper lobe of the lung. Blood/sputum cultures detected Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Despite intensive care, the patient died from respiratory failure. Autopsy revealed multiple small necrotizing cavities that had coalesced. Although P. aeruginosa is a known causative pathogen of community-acquired pneumonia in patients with structural lung disease, the radiologic findings were non-specific. Irrespective of imaging findings, P. aeruginosa should be considered a cause of community-acquired pneumonia.