Pseudomonas aeruginosa Community Acquired Pneumonia with Septicemia in a Previously Healthy Woman

A previously healthy 53-year-old woman was urgently hospitalized due to septic shock. She was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia based on chest radiograph and computed tomography findings of right upper lobe consolidation. Sputum Gramstain at the time of admission showed gram-negative rods with phagocytosis. Intravenous meropenem was immediately initiated as empiric antibacterial therapy. Bacterial culture specimens from sputum and blood were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Following appropriate antibiotic therapies, the patient recovered from a shock state and gradually became well. There has been no evidence of recurrence at 6 months after discharge. P. aeruginosa community acquired pneumonia with septicemia is rapidly progressive and often fatal. The choice of initial empiric antibiotic treatment that is active against P. aeruginosa is critical in improving outcome.