SEPTIC SHOCK DUE TO PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA IN A PREVIOUSLY HEALTHY WOMAN

Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia rarely occurs in non-immunocompromis ed adults. We present a case of septic shock following Pseudomonas aer uginosa pneumonia in a previously healthy 48-year-old woman. The onset was sudden, with back pain, pyrexia and shock. Chest radiographs reve aled pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was identified from blood a nd sputum cultures. Therapy with dopamine, piperacillin and fluid repl acement led to a prompt recovery. Laboratory tests failed to reveal an y immunological deficits. Including this case, only five cases of Pseu domonas aeruginosa septicemia in patients though to be non-immunocompr omised have been reported. Two remarkable features of this type of Pse udomonas infection are apparent: i) it commonly develops from pneumoni a and ii) it has a better prognosis than that in immunocompromised hos ts.