[Fulminant lobulated lung empyema caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa]

We report the case of a 27-year-old man with a history of diabetes mellitus who presented with conscious disturbance, fever, and stiff neck after upper respiratory tract infection. Following diagnosis of meningoencephalitis, antibiotic therapy and deamethasone was initiated. He received endotracheal tube intervention under mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit, and underwent successful weaning on day 4. One week later, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and a rapidly progressing lung empyema with abscess formation was noted. Microbiological culture of the pleural fluid revealed the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Nosocomial pneumonia is often caused by Staphylococcus aureus and P. aeruginosa; however, the latter often causes bronchopneumonia rather than fulminant empyema or lung abscess formation. The underlying diabetes mellitus and the history of steroid therapy may explain the present condition of this patient. The possibility of P. aeruginosa being the causative agent should be considered during differential diagnosis in patients presenting with fulminant lung empyema, especially in immunocompromised patients.