Polymicrobial necrotizing pneumonia leading to posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in an asthmatic patient

Abstract

Necrotizing pneumonia is a rare and severe complication of community-acquired pneumonia, characterized by parenchymal necrosis and multiple cavitations. It is most commonly associated with virulent organisms such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) is a neurotoxic condition that presents with seizures, altered consciousness, and visual disturbances, often associated with sepsis, hypertension, or renal dysfunction. The co-occurrence of necrotizing pneumonia and PRES is extremely rare and not well documented in the literature. We report a case of necrotizing pneumonia in a patient with uncontrolled bronchial asthma, who improved with appropriate antibiotic therapy. However, severe bronchospasm necessitated cautious use of corticosteroids in the setting of necrotizing pneumonia and sepsis, ultimately leading to the development of PRES. A multidisciplinary approach involving pulmonologists, critical care specialists, and neurologists contributed to a successful outcome in this patient. Keywords: necrotizing pneumonia; uncontrolled asthma; sepsis; respiratory failure; PRES

Keywords

• necrotizing pneumonia
• uncontrolled asthma
• sepsis
• respiratory failure
• pres