[Invasive Hafnia alvei pneumonia complicated with lung abscess and pneumothorax triad: imaging features and therapeutic dilemmas in an extremely rare case of severe infection].
Reports of Hafnia infections in humans are infrequent, and the triad of Hafnia infection complicated by lung abscess and pneumothorax remains rarely documented. On January 25, 2025, a patient with a critical case of invasive Hafnia alvei pneumonia complicated by lung abscess and pneumothorax was admitted to Guangde Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. The patient had underlying comorbidities including diabetes mellitus and hepatitis B liver cirrhosis. The medical team identified severe pneumonia and its causative pathogen, Hafnia alvei through detailed examinations. An individualized treatment plan was formulated based on the results of drug susceptibility tests. However, the patient's condition progressed rapidly, and he experienced endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, complicated by shock. Re-examination of imaging after treatment revealed progression of pulmonary cavities, along with the complication of lung abscess and tension pneumothorax. The neurological prognosis was poor after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the patient was discharged voluntarily. The triad of pneumonia, lung abscess, and pneumothorax caused by Hafnia alvei in this case has unique clinical manifestations, suggesting that clinicians should be alert to infections caused by rare pathogens such as Hafnia alvei when facing infected patients with multiple underlying diseases. Early identification of the invasive characteristics of the pathogen (rapidly progressive cavity plus secondary abscess/pneumothorax) is crucial. This case provides diagnostic and therapeutic insights for clinicians encountering similar infections, improving their understanding and management of Hafnia alvei infections.