Klebsiella pneumoniae Lung Abscess Due to Aspiration of Seawater During Recreational Free Diving

Abstract

Cough persisting for 5 wk, low-grade fever, and thick, pinkish to reddish, foul-tasting sputum made the doctors seeing this patient think of tuberculosis at first. However, a history of aspirating seawater during recreational free diving gave a clearer picture of how this patient got sick. Investigations later revealed a cavitary lesion in the right lung, and sputum culture grew Klebsiella pneumoniae, resulting in a diagnosis of lung abscess. This case is being reported to show this peculiar way that a bacterial pathogen entered the respiratory tree and that recreational free diving poses a health risk if done in a marine environment where this “survivor bacteria” thrives.