Pseudomonas aeruginosa community-acquired pneumonia in previously healthy adults:: Case report and review of the literature

We report a case of rapidly fatal Pseudomonas aeruginosa community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a previously healthy 67-year-old woman. Eleven published case reports of P. aeruginosa CAP in previously healthy adults are reviewed. According to our review, the mean age of affected patients is 45.3 years. Five patients described in the literature were smokers with a mean smoking history of 40 pack-years. The clinical presentation is nonspecific, and although the pneumonia can be rapidly fatal, only 33% of the patients who were reported died. However, mortality may be independent of treatment within the first 36 hours of presentation. Exposure to aerosols of contaminated water is a risk factor for P. aeruginosa CAP in this population. Pseudomonas CAP should be considered in the differential diagnosis for anyone with a smoking history who presents with rapidly progressive pneumonia. We discuss treatment recommendations that are based on evidence in the currently available literature on the subject.