Pseudomonas aeruginosa blepharoconjunctivitis during cytoreductive chemotherapy in a woman with acute lymphocytic leukemia

Ann Hematol. 1997 Sep;75(3):121-3. doi: 10.1007/s002770050325.

Abstract

Patients undergoing chemotherapy regimens for hematologic malignancies are prone to develop unusual and potentially life-threatening infections during periods of leukopenia- induced immunosuppression. We report the case of a woman who received consolidation chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia and acquired necrotizing Pseudomonas aeruginosa blepharoconjunctivitis of the right eye during a period of mild leukopenia. The infection led to severe orbital and periorbital inflammation, spreading down to the neck. High-dose antibiotic treatment with ceftazidime and tobramycin combined with granulocyte cell-stimulating factor cleared the infection after several days, but plastic surgery was needed to restore normal eye closure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blepharitis / microbiology*
  • Conjunctivitis / microbiology*
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / immunology
  • Pseudomonas Infections*