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Case Reports
. 2022 Sep 2;1(3):37983.
doi: 10.56305/001c.37983. eCollection 2022.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection Presenting as Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia and Thrombocytopenia

Mohammad Abu-Abaa  1 , Olena Fleury  1 , Manish Gugnani  1 , Daniel Goldsmith  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection Presenting as Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia and Thrombocytopenia

Mohammad Abu-Abaa et al. Brown J Hosp Med. .

Abstract

A 28 year-old female with congenital human immunodeficiency virus infection presented with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia secondary to multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infection. Initial management for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) was discontinued when normal ADAMTS13 activity was found. There are several infectious etiologies that can exhibit microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia mimicking TTP including P. aeruginosa. This case highlights the importance of following guidelines regarding dual antibiotic coverage for P. aeruginosa infection as antibiotic resistance can develop during the course of treatment.

Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; microangiopathic hemolytic anemia; thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors have nothing to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Initial Computed Tomography (CT) of the chest showing bilateral cavitary pulmonary lesions with right sided pneumothorax.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. A later CT of the chest showing progression of the bilateral cavitary pulmonary lesions with persistent right sided pneumothorax on antibiotic monotherapy with cefepime.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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