Bacteremic Pseudomonas pneumonia

We have studied 20 cases of bacteremic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia and have reviewed 29 cases recorded in the literature. Analysis of the accumulated data indicates that bacteremic Pseudomonas pneumonia is invariably associated with conditions that impair host defenses, especially hematologic or reticuloendothelial malignant neoplasms, and it is almost universally fatal even after therapy with appropriate antimicrobials. A chest roentgenogram that simulates pulmonary vascular congestion in the presence of normal central venous pressure may be an important clue to the existence of this type of pneumonia. (JAMA230:558-561, 1974)