Abdominal Sepsis With Pseudomonas aeruginosa After Oocyte Retrieval

We present a case of a 30-year-old female admitted to our hospital with signs of intra-abdominal sepsis, without a clear source, after undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval. She failed to improve after 48 hours of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and subsequently underwent diagnostic laparoscopy. Intra-abdominal findings included diffuse pus and fibrinous exudates, without abscess formation. Peritoneal washout and prophylactic appendectomy were performed, with dramatic improvement post-operatively. Cultures of intra-abdominal pus grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and pathology confirmed that the appendix was not involved. Given that the rectouterine pouch appeared to be the most inflamed area and given the lack of other exposures, our case demonstrates a severe intra-abdominal infection following oocyte retrieval during in-vitro fertilization treatment. This is a rare, serious complication, and physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for this condition in patients with similar presentation, as early diagnosis and intervention are crucial.