Chlamydia psittaci infection-associated acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonitis: A case report

Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) is a rare type of lung injury, and while Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia is a zoonotic disease, secondary AFOP has not been previously reported. We present a 53-year-old female with a 13-day history of cough, fever, and shortness of breath. High-resolutio...

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Main Authors: Xianhua Gui, Xiaohua Qiu, Yujuan Gao, Tingting Chen, Yuying Qiu, Jia Liu, Yonglong Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:IDCases
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214250925000721
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Summary:Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) is a rare type of lung injury, and while Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia is a zoonotic disease, secondary AFOP has not been previously reported. We present a 53-year-old female with a 13-day history of cough, fever, and shortness of breath. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) showed multiple bilateral patchy shadows and consolidations in the left lung lower lobe. Empirical treatment was ineffective, and lung lesions worsened. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) confirmed Chlamydia psittaci infection. After minocycline treatment, the patient’s fever improved, but shortness of breath persisted. CT-guided lung biopsy revealed “fibrin balls” in the alveolar space and interstitial inflammatory infiltrates. Shortness of breath improved after glucocorticoid therapy, with significant lesion absorption noted on follow-up chest CT. This case suggests a possible association between AFOP and C. psittaci infection, supporting the use of combined antibiotic and glucocorticoid therapy.
ISSN:2214-2509