Rice-Field Drowning-Associated Pneumonia in which Pseudomonas spp., Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cunninghamella sp. Are Isolated

Intern Med. 2016;55(7):825-9. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.55.4454. Epub 2016 Apr 1.

Abstract

We herein report the case of an 84-year-old who developed pneumonia after drowning in a rice field. Besides Aspergillus fumigatus, many pathogens previously not reported in drowning-associated pneumonia (such as Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida, Nocardia niigatensis, and Cunninghamella sp.) were isolated from his sputum. He received sulbactam/ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, voriconazole, levofloxacin and liposomal amphotericin B, but died due to respiratory failure. Because the patient had drowned in a contaminated stagnant rice field and had multiple lung cavities, zygomycosis was suspected. This report provides invaluable information for the consideration of zygomycosis after an individual drowning in a rice field, even in an immunocompetent patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Agriculture*
  • Aspergillus fumigatus
  • Cunninghamella
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Near Drowning / complications*
  • Nocardia
  • Oryza*
  • Pneumonia / etiology*
  • Pneumonia / microbiology*
  • Pseudomonas fluorescens
  • Pseudomonas putida
  • Respiratory Insufficiency