Cedecea lapagei pneumonia: the first reported case in Italy and literature review

Cedecea lapagei is a rare Gram-negative bacillus of the Enterobacteriaceae family, typically identified as an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised or critically ill patients. Less than twenty clinically significant infections have been described worldwide, many displaying concerning multidrug-resistance profiles. We report the first documented case of C. lapagei pneumonia in Italy, occurring in a 73-year-old man with hypogammaglobulinemia and post-stroke dysphagia who presented with a recurrence of pneumonia. Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) obtained for diagnostic clarification yielded C. lapagei as the causative organism. A literature review on C. lapagei pneumonia has been conducted as well. This case underscores the pathogenic potential of C. lapagei in vulnerable hosts and highlights the importance of thorough microbiological investigation and targeted antimicrobial therapy, given its unpredictable and often extensive antimicrobial resistance pattern.