Acinetobacter baumannii Causing Complex Parapneumonic Effusion in a Community-Living Immunocompetent Host: A Case Report

Pleural effusion is a prevalent clinical condition; however, the occurrence of community-acquired <i>Acinetobacter</i> pneumoniae resulting in pleural effusion is infrequent. This case report describes a community-acquired complex pleural effusion due to <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, which was successfully managed. A 56-year-old male patient presented to a local hospital with fever and right-sided pleuritic chest pain and was diagnosed with pleural effusion. Due to a lack of improvement after three days of intravenous meropenem antibiotics, the patient was transferred to a tertiary care hospital. Pleural aspiration confirmed a community-acquired <i>Acinetobacter</i> <i>baumannii</i>-infected complex atypical parapneumonic pleural effusion. The patient was treated with intravenous piperacillin-tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, and oral clindamycin antibiotics, along with pigtail catheter drainage, resulting in complete resolution of the condition. This report highlights the significance of early identification and effective management of atypical bacterial infections in pleural effusions.