A Compilation of Cases Suffering from Pneumonia Caused by Pseudomonas mosselli in Immunocompromised Patients

Abstract

Background: Pseudomonas mosselli is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, non-sporing, motile bacterium that coexists with plants in the soil and protects them from fungal and bacterial illnesses by creating a variety of molecules. In immunocompromised hosts, it causes opportunistic infections. Most common presentations of respiratory infection include fever, respiratory distress and purulent cough.  The objective of our study is to highlight the infective potential of rare isolates like Pseudomonas mosselii in immunocompromised patients.

Cases: In our case series, we've included three cases, of which case 1 had type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease and hypertension and was also diagnosed SARS- CoV-2 positive by RT-PCR (Real time polymerase chain reaction), case 2 had Takosubo cardiomyopathy with impending heart failure and case 3 suffered from advanced renal failure on weekly dialysis and steroid therapy. Pseudomonas mossellii was isolated from respiratory samples of these patients admitted to a tertiary care centre. Identification was performed by the culture characteristics, biochemical reactions and species identification, performed by Matrix assisted laser desorption / ionization- time of flight- mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS).

Conclusion: Pseudomonas mosselii causes opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. It causes respiratory infections that are easily treated with antibiotics and then tested for antibiotic susceptibility.