Pseudomembranous bronchitis (non-diphtherial) resulting in sudden death: an autopsy report

A 69-year-old woman was admitted because of dyspnea. Thereafter, she fell into a state of shock. Resuscitation was attempted but she did not respond to it and died on the second hospital day. According to the autopsy findings, a wide range of area from the larynx to the trachea was covered with pseudomembrane. In the culture of bacteria, alpha Streptococcus and Corynebacterium genus (non-diphtherial) were all that was detected. These findings suggest that pseudomembranous lesion, an endogenous foreign matter of the air passage should be suspected when a patient presents with sudden dyspnea.