Management of ventilator‑associated pneumonia due to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection: A case report and literature review

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) is a difficult-to-treat bacteria. This glucose non-fermenting, multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacillus is known to cause a range of infections, such as skin manifestations and bacteraemia, with respiratory tract infections being the most common. Patients in intensive care units are often exposed to a higher risk of acquiring an infection caused by this pathogen. Although distinguishing between S. maltophilia infections and colonization can be challenging, pneumonia caused by S. maltophilia infection is becoming increasingly prevalent. Furthermore, S. maltophilia infections are often coupled with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, reinforcing the need to consider this bacterium as a potential cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The present study describes the case of a 66-year-old male who was diagnosed with VAP due to S. maltophilia infection. This condition was effectively treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The case described herein underscores the importance of prompt recognition through heightened clinical suspicion, particularly in patients with VAP who are unresponsive to broad-spectrum β-lactam antibiotics. The early identification of S. maltophilia as the root cause of respiratory tract infections can make a significant difference to the outcomes of affected patients