Pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis due to Bacillus cereus.
We present a case of a rapidly progressive pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis and pneumonia in a 52-year-old woman with severe aplastic anemia. Bacillus cereus was isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, blood cultures, and pseudomembrane biopsy specimens; despite intensive antibiotic treatment, the patient's condition deteriorated rapidly. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a B. cereus infection that has caused pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis, possibly because of the production of bacterial toxins.
Strauss
R
R
Department of Medicine I, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. richard.strauss@med1.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Mueller
A
A
Wehler
M
M
Neureiter
D
D
Fischer
E
E
Gramatzki
M
M
Hahn
E G
EG
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D014136:Tracheitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents