Lactobacillus species as a cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia in a critically ill trauma patient.
Lactobacillus species are ubiquitous inhabitants of the human gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts and rarely cause infections. Pneumonia caused by Lactobacillus has been reported only in immunocompromised patients and in one patient with structural lung disease. A 39-year-old, immunocompetent, critically ill woman developed ventilator-associated pneumonia, which was found to be caused by Lactobacillus. To our knowledge, this is the first such report. The infection was treated successfully with 14 days of intravenous vancomycin. Based on this case, Lactobacillus should be considered a possible cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia in immunocompetent, critically ill patients.
Wood
G Christopher
GC
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163, USA. cwood@utmem.edu
Boucher
Bradley A
BA
Croce
Martin A
MA
Fabian
Timothy C
TC
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007778:Lactobacillus; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000009:adverse effects*