Pneumococcal bacteremia with retropharyngeal soft-tissue inflammation and acute epiglottitis.

Pneumococcal bacteremia secondary to acute epiglottitis is relatively rare, and all previously reported cases occurred in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of pneumococcal bacteremia associated with acute epiglottitis and retropharyngeal soft-tissue inflammation with upper airway narrowing that occurred in an otherwise healthy patient. In light of our unique finding, we recommend that pneumococcal bacteremia be suspected in an otherwise healthy patient who has systemic manifestations associated with acute epiglottitis.