Fulminant pneumonia due to Aeromonas hydrophila in a man with chronic renal failure and liver cirrhosis.

A 40-year-old man on hemodialysis was admitted due to dyspnea and chest pain and was diagnosed with pneumonia and pericarditis. Ampicillin was administered, but thereafter severe septic shock developed. The fulminant type of pneumonia progressed rapidly, and he died only 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. The autopsy and sputa culture revealed pneumonia due to Aeromonas hydrophila. The source of this infection remained unkown. Interestingly, there were two types of A. hydrophila found during such a short period. The physician should suspect this disease by questioning the patient's history. Early treatment with adequate antibiotics is the only means of saving such a patient's life.