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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author Xianhua Gui
Xiaohua Qiu
Yujuan Gao
Tingting Chen
Yuying Qiu
Jia Liu
Yonglong Xiao
author_facet Xianhua Gui
Xiaohua Qiu
Yujuan Gao
Tingting Chen
Yuying Qiu
Jia Liu
Yonglong Xiao
author_sort Xianhua Gui
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-011746bdbdb249988d264af33fbd94e62025-08-20T03:11:04ZengElsevierIDCases2214-25092025-01-0140e0221710.1016/j.idcr.2025.e02217Chlamydia psittaci infection-associated acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonitis: A case reportXianhua Gui0Xiaohua Qiu1Yujuan Gao2Tingting Chen3Yuying Qiu4Jia Liu5Yonglong Xiao6Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, ChinaDinfectome Inc., Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China; Corresponding author.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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214250925000721Acute fibrinous organizing pneumoniaChlamydia psittaciFeverDyspnea
spellingShingle Xianhua Gui
Xiaohua Qiu
Yujuan Gao
Tingting Chen
Yuying Qiu
Jia Liu
Yonglong Xiao
Chlamydia psittaci infection-associated acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonitis: A case report
IDCases
Acute fibrinous organizing pneumonia
Chlamydia psittaci
Fever
Dyspnea
title Chlamydia psittaci infection-associated acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonitis: A case report
title_full Chlamydia psittaci infection-associated acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonitis: A case report
title_fullStr Chlamydia psittaci infection-associated acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonitis: A case report
title_full_unstemmed Chlamydia psittaci infection-associated acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonitis: A case report
title_short Chlamydia psittaci infection-associated acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonitis: A case report
title_sort chlamydia psittaci infection associated acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonitis a case report
topic Acute fibrinous organizing pneumonia
Chlamydia psittaci
Fever
Dyspnea
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214250925000721
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