A case of abscessed pneumonia due to COVID-19 infection in a young patient

Viral infections are the first ranked conditions among infectious diseases causing 5–15% of all community-acquired pneumonia. The aim of the study was to describe a case of COVID-19 infection, proceeding with acquired bacterial infection and developing abscess pneumonia in a young patient.

Material and methods. The accompanying medical documentation was examined, clinical and morphological analysis was carried out for assessing macro- and micropreparations.

Results. Patient A.E., 31 years old, within 5 hours 10 minutes was at in-hospital treatment with a diagnosis of Coronavirus infection, severe course. Community-acquired bilateral polysegmental pneumonia. The patient admitted with complaints of respiratory difficulty, shortness of breath, weakness, fever up to febrile level, severe pain in the right groin area, both lower extremities, swelling in hands and feet. However, despite initiated treatment, the patient’s condition worsened and biological death was verified. The postmortem examination revealed signs of total bilateral hemorrhagic pneumonia. Histological examination showed areas of necrosis in the alveolar epithelium and signs of marked edema with a hemorrhagic component; hemolyzed erythrocytes were found in alveolar lumen. Focal hemorrhages were visualized in the pulmonary parenchyma, sometimes merging along with lung tissue with forming microabscesses. a well-defined shaft consisting of granular leukocytes and congested vessels with erythrocyte sludge was noted on the periphery of necrosis area. In the alveoli located closer to the abscesses, fibrinous and serous exudate was detected. Signs of edema were observed in the brain; histological examination revealed perivascular, pericellular optical voids with vascular congestion, erythrocyte sludge and minor hemorrhages. SARS-CoV-2-caused pneumonia and acquired bacterial infection, in this case due to staphylococcus, led to abscess pneumonia and severe respiratory failure with developing acute distress syndrome. Obviously, the high frequency of destructive processes in staphylococcal pneumonia is due to the pathogenic staphylococci characterized by production of high-level proteolytic enzymes destroying body tissues. Thus, the current case of COVID-19 infection in a young patient is of particular importance and relevance, because it demonstrates an unfavorable disease outcome despite patient young age and lack of concomitant pathology.