AUTHOR=Dai Jinmeng , Lian Xue , Mo Juanfen , Li Xiaosi , Mo Weiqiang , Wang Haiqin , Jiang Jianping 

TITLE=Case report: A clinical case study of six patients with Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1084882

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2023.1084882

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objective</title><p>To investigate the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of <italic>Chlamydia psittaci</italic> (<italic>C. psittac</italic>i) pneumonia.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of six patients with <italic>C. psittaci</italic> pneumonia who were admitted to the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine of the Second Hospital of Jiaxing from December 2021 to September 2022.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>All patients reported a fever and other accompanying symptoms, including cough (5/6), chest tightness (1/6), fatigue (2/6), and headache (1/6). Laboratory results showed that all patients had high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP≥70 mg/L), procalcitonin (PCT; 2 patients with PCT levels ≥0.5 ng/L), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were elevated in 3/6 and of 2/6 patients, respectively. Chest computed tomography (CT) of most patients showed patchy, high-density shadows with partial consolidation, accompanied by air bronchogram signs and pleural effusion. Six patients were diagnosed with <italic>C. psittaci</italic> pneumonia using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). They showed favorable outcomes following immediate adjustment of the regimen to doxycycline-based therapy and hydration, nutrition, and other follow-up treatments. In the imaging findings obtained at one-two month, the lesions were completely cleared, suggesting a favorable prognosis.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Patients with <italic>C. psittaci</italic> pneumonia commonly present sepsis and rapidly progressing disease. Early diagnosis is critical for <italic>C. psittaci</italic> pneumonia using mNGS, which can lead to favorable prognoses <italic>via</italic> immediate adjustment therapies.</p></sec>