Search
Chlamydophila pneumoniae; Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR agent)
Epidemiology:
1) found only in human respiratory tract, no known reservoirs
2) person to person spread
3) cycles of disease every few years
4) re-infection is common
5) 10% of community-acquired pneumonia
Pathogenesis:
1) causes a spectrum of disease:
-> mild upper respiratory tract symptoms to pneumonia
2) considered an etiologic agent of coronary artery disease
Clinical manifestations:
1) incubation period 10-65 days
2) 15% of patients are symptomatic
a) pharyngitis (90%)
b) pneumonia (10%)
c) bronchitis (5%)
d) sinusitis (5%)
e) pharyngeal erythema (common)
f) wheezing (common)
Laboratory:
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae serology
- complement fixation: insensitive & non-specific
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae antigen
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae DNA, Chlamydophila pneumoniae rRNA
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae+Chlamydophila psittaci DNA
- culture for Chlamydophila pneumoniae
- see ARUP consult [4]
Radiology:
-> chest X-ray: unilateral, segmental, patchy opacity
Management: (antimicrobial therapy)
1) tetracycline 500 mg PO QID
2) doxycycline 100 mg IV/PO BID
3) macrolide
a) erythromycin
b) clarithromycin
c) azithromycin
General
Chlamydophila
Properties
KINGDOM: monera
DIVISION: SCHIZOMYCETES
References
- Manual of Medical Therapeutics, 28th edition, Ewald &
McKenzie (eds) Little, Brown & Co, 1995, pg 301-302
- Mayo Internal Medicine Board Review, 1998-99, Prakash UBS (ed)
Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1998, pg 798
- Journal Watch 20(14):111, 2000
Ericson et al Circulation 101:2568 2000
- ARUP Consult: Chlamydophila Species - Chlamydia pneumoniae Infection
The Physician's Guide to Laboratory Test Selection & Interpretation
https://www.arupconsult.com/content/chlamydophila-species