Cases of community-acquired Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia (n = 39) that occurred at a tertiary-care hospital during a 5-year period were analysed retrospectively. The commonest underlying diseases were solid tumour (41%) and haematological malignancy (18%). Most (44%) of the patients were neutropenic, and 39% had septic shock at initial presentation. The 30-day attributable mortality rate was 39%. Two previously healthy patients were identified with fatal P. aeruginosa pneumonia with bacteraemia. P. aeruginosa bacteraemia is a fatal infection that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting from the community with rapidly progressive sepsis.