<i>Chromobacterium haemolyticum</i> Pneumonia Possibly Due to the Aspiration of Runoff Water

Abstract

Here, we report a case of pneumonia possibly caused by the aspiration of runoff water containing Chromobacterium haemolyticum. A 69-year-old man became intoxicated with alcohol, fell into a ditch, and lost consciousness after suffering a blow to the head. The lower half of his body was completely paralyzed because of damage to his spinal cord, and he aspirated runoff water from the ditch. Chest computed tomography scans revealed consolidation in the right upper lobe and bilateral lower lobes. A sputum culture detected gram-negative bacteria that was identified as C. haemolyticum. Antibacterial chemotherapy was initiated, and the clinical course was favorable. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. haemolyticum pneumonia in the literature.