Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to bacteraemic pneumococcal pneumonia

We describe a patient, who had no pre-existing disease, with bacteraemic pneumococcal pneumonia and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a rare complication. In spite of the use of antibiotics and intensive treatment the mortality rate of this kind of infection remains high. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequently found micro-organism responsible for community-acquired pneumonia. In 25-35% of these patients pneumococcal bacteraemia is found, with a 2-3 times higher mortality rate than that for non-bacteraemic pneumococcal pneumonia.