Pseudomonas Pneumonia Associated With Use of a Home Whirlpool Spa

Abstract

<i>PSEUDOMONAS</i>pneumonia is characteristically a hospital-acquired infection in patients with serious underlying disease or impaired host defense mechanisms.^1-3The appearance of this pneumonia in a previously healthy person residing in a community setting is rare. Only 2% of a normal adult population harbor<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>in their pharynx, the organisms being present in very small numbers.⁴Two of three normal persons with this infection who have been described in detail were bacteremic.^5-7The source of the organism was never determined in either patient. The pulmonary infection in the third patient apparently arose from the pharyngeal flora that had been altered by the administration of several courses of antibiotics for a mild respiratory tract infection.⁷An acute, nonbacteremic<i>Pseudomonas</i>pneumonia developed in a previously healthy man who apparently acquired the infection during the use of a home whirlpool spa. <h3>Report of a Case</h3> A 47-year-old man experienced