A RARE CASE OF PNEUMONIA WITH BACTERAEMIA DUE TO SHEWANELLA PUTREFACIENS
TL;DR
A case of S. putrefaciens pneumonia complicated by bacteremia in a patient with cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, which was discharged with complete recovery after 14 days of antibiotherapy is reported.
Abstract
Shewanella putrefaciens is a common cause of skin and soft tissue infections but is rarely seen as a cause of pneumonia. Here we report a case of S. putrefaciens pneumonia complicated by bacteremia in a patient with cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. A 66-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department with complaints of dyspnoea and fever. The patient was orotracheally intubated and a chest computed tomography showedshowed bilateral diffuse central and peripheral ground-glass opacities and a bilateral pleural effusion 20 mm wide. Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema was considered in the patient due to her chronic ischaemic heart disease and bilateral 2+ pretibial oedema. However, pneumonia associated with pulmonary oedema was considered in a patient with high fever, neutrophilic leucocytosis and a C-reactive protein of 18 mg/L. Moxifloxacin 1x400 mg intravenously was started empirically. Gram-negative bacilli grown in blood culture were identified as S. putrefaciens. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated no resistance. The patient was discharged with complete recovery after 14 days of antibiotherapy.