Septic shock in bacteraemia by Pseudomonas aeruginosa due to a minor skin injury in a lung transplant recipient

A man in his 60s, under dual immunosuppression following bilateral lung transplantation (BiLuTx), developed bacteraemia and septic shock by Pseudomonas aeruginosa with ecthyma gangrenosum. Symptoms emerged acutely a few weeks after he had received high-dose intravenous steroid treatment for acute cellular graft rejection (ACR). The suspected route of entry of the pathogen was a minor accidental skin injury. Despite the severity of his condition, he successfully recovered after an intensive 26-day course of intravenous antibiotic therapy.