Successful treatment of pulmonary haemorrhage and acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by fulminant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia respiratory infection in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – case report

BACKGROUND: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia-induced pulmonary haemorrhage is considered a fatal infection among haematological patients. The outcome can be explained by the patients’ immunity status and late diagnosis and treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the rare case of successful outcome in a 61-year-old female who developed alveolar haemorrhage and acute respiratory distress syndrome 8 days after a chemotherapy session for her acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, in the context of secondary bone marrow aplasia. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was isolated in sputum culture. The patient benefitted from early empirical treatment with colistin followed by trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, according to the antibiogram. Despite a severe initial clinical presentation in need of mechanical ventilation, neuromuscular blocking agents infusion, and ventilation in prone position, the patient had a favourable outcome and was discharged from intensive care after 26 days. CONCLUSIONS: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia severe pneumonia complicated with pulmonary haemorrhage is not always fatal in haematological patients. Empirical treatment of multidrug-resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in an immunocompromised haematological patient presenting with hemoptysis should be taken into consideration.