# Unexpected Culprit: A Case Report of Pleuropulmonary Pantoea septica Infection in a Ketamine User

## TL;DR

A 30-year-old man with a history of ketamine abuse developed a rare lung infection caused by Pantoea septica, highlighting a possible link between drug use and unusual infections.

## Contribution

This case report identifies ketamine abuse as a potential risk factor for Pantoea septica pulmonary infection in otherwise healthy individuals.

## Key findings

- Pantoea septica caused multifocal cavitary pneumonia and parapneumonic effusions in a ketamine user.
- The patient responded to intravenous antibiotics and pleural drainage.
- The case suggests a possible immunomodulatory effect of ketamine increasing susceptibility to rare pathogens.

## Abstract

Pantoea septica, a gram-negative bacillus typically associated with opportunistic bloodstream infections in neonatal intensive care units, rarely causes pulmonary infections in immunocompetent individuals. We present a case of a 30-year-old male with multifocal cavitary pneumonia, bilateral parapneumonic effusions, and positive blood cultures for Pantoea septica, occurring in the setting of prior ketamine abuse. The patient presented with fever, productive cough, chest pain, and worsening dyspnea, without significant medical history or immunocompromising conditions. Diagnostic evaluation revealed elevated inflammatory markers, characteristic radiographic findings, and successful treatment with intravenous antibiotics and pleural drainage. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge posed by Pantoea septica in pulmonary infections and suggests a potential link between ketamine abuse and susceptibility to uncommon pathogens, warranting further investigation into its immunomodulatory effects.