Stenotrophomonas Necrotizing Tonsilitis in a Pediatric Patient: A Rare Presentation With Upper Airway Obstruction.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is notorious for its intrinsic resistance to many commonly used antibiotics, making it a particularly challenging pathogen to treat. It often causes severe opportunistic infections in immunocompromised and hospitalized patients. The potential for this infection to become fulminant with high mortality rates in both adults and children necessitates a multidisciplinary approach. Prompt initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy can be lifesaving. In this case report, we present a rare instance involving an eight-month-old previously healthy infant diagnosed with necrotizing tonsillitis and a retropharyngeal abscess, which led to upper airway obstruction. Intraoperative tissue cultures identified this highly virulent gram-negative bacillus. The report details the medical and surgical management that resulted in the patient's complete recovery.