[Acute suppurative parotitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa]

Acute suppurative parotitis is a rare infection which usually occurs in hospitalized patients. Risk factors are dehydration, old age, the postoperative state and immunocompromised states. We describe a 66-year-old woman with acute myeloid leukemia who developed this condition. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultured from the blood and the orifice of Stensen's duct. Recovery followed a combination of antistaphylococcal medication with clindamycin, ofloxacin and gentamicin. We stress the need to recognize Gram-negative bacteria as possible pathogens in this condition.