Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to bacteraemic pneumococcal pneumonia.
We describe a patient, who had no pre-existing disease, with bacteraemic pneumococcal pneumonia and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a rare complication. In spite of the use of antibiotics and intensive treatment the mortality rate of this kind of infection remains high. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequently found micro-organism responsible for community-acquired pneumonia. In 25-35% of these patients pneumococcal bacteraemia is found, with a 2-3 times higher mortality rate than that for non-bacteraemic pneumococcal pneumonia.
Mannes
G P
GP
Dept of Pulmonary Diseases, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
Boersma
W G
WG
Baur
C H
CH
Postmus
P E
PE
D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000150:complications*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*