PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA BLEPHAROCONJUNCTIVITIS DURING CYTOREDUCTIVE CHEMOTHERAPY IN A WOMAN WITH ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA

Patients undergoing chemotherapy regimens for hematologic malignancies are prone to develop unusual and potentially life-threatening infecti ons during periods of leukopenia-induced immunosuppression. We report the case of a woman who received consolidation chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia and acquired necrotizing Pseudomonas aeruginosa b lepharoconjunctivitis of the right eye during a period of mild leukope nia. The infection led to severe orbital and periorbital inflammation, spreading down to the neck. High-dose antibiotic treatment with cefta zidime and tobramycin combined with granulocyte cell-stimulating facto r cleared the infection after several days, but plastic surgery was ne eded to restore normal eye closure.