Not Your Typical Pneumonia: A Rare Case of Delftia acidovorans Pneumonia With Concurrent Malignant Squamous Cell...

Delftia acidovorans (D. acidovorans) is classified as a Gram-negative, aerobic non-fermenting bacillus that is commonly found in outdoor environmental elements, such as soil and water. In normal circumstances, it is considered a non-pathological environmental organism, rarely implicated in clinical settings with a low incidence of patient infection. D. acidovorans infections, including pneumonia and sepsis, are often associated with increased susceptibility to secondary infections from other Gram-negative bacteria, especially in patients with solid or hematologic malignancies. Henceforth, this case report presents a case of a stroke patient, found to have an obstructive metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the lung complicated with D. acidovorans pneumonia. The report sheds light in regards to how rare, unassuming pathogens can have significant clinical significance and limited treatment modalities in immunocompromised patients.