Community-acquired necrotizing pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a healthy pregnant woman after being infected with influenza A: A case report for early warning

Abstract

A previously healthy woman, 5 weeks pregnant, was admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition for septic shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) after being infected with Influenza for 3 days. The patient in this case suffered from severe sequelae due to necrotizing pneumonia and later died on the 20th day after admission. We would like to remind clinicians to be aware of this rare but serious diagnosis. The key is to begin appropriate treatment immediately because MRSA necrotizing pneumonia is mediated by toxins and once the toxins are released they cannot be limited by antibiotic treatments. Necrotizing pneumonia related to MRSA should be considered in young patients with pneumonia, sepsis, and neutropenia following seasonal influenza infection with rapidly progressive symptoms.

Keywords: influenza infection; necrotizing pneumonia; neutropenia; sepsis.

FIGURE 1

Computed tomography scan of the chest on day 10 showed massive bilateral consolidation with air bronchogram and multiple cavities in the right lung indicating extensive parenchymal destruction.

FIGURE 2

Computed tomography scan of the chest on day 18 showed an increased right pulmonary cavity, right pneumothorax, drain tube in the right pleural cavity. Consolidation with several small cavities in the left lung.