Coexisting respiratory tract infection and bacteremia or sepsis caused by the same bacterium

We experienced 12 patients who were suffering from bacteremia or sepsis and pneumonia or lung abscess coincidently caused by the same bacterium, during the 8 years from 1985 to 1992 a Hokusyo Central Hospital. All of them has some underlying diseases, and the average age was 73.6 years old. In ten out of 12 patients bacteremia or sepsis preceded the respiratory tract infection, and in 7 cases indwelling intravenous catheter was thought to be the port of entry of the bacteria. Respiratory tract infections were composed of pneumonia in 8 cases and lung abscess in 4 cases. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was detected in 4 cases, Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were in 2 cases respectively, Citrobacter freundii and Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus spp. were in one cases respectively. Eight out of 12 cases died in spite of current antibiotics therapy, suggesting poor prognosis.