Authors: V. Perani¹; C. Farina¹; L. Maggi²; G. Michetti³; F. Moioli¹; P. Pizzocaro⁴; C. Pugliese³

Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 2, Number 9, September 1998 , pp. 766-770(5)

Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of Leptospira spp. infections in a population of in- and out-patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and the incidence of leptospiral pneumonia.

DESIGN AND RESULTS: Of 176 patients infected with CAP who were evaluated for the presence of Leptospira spp. as causative agent, 10 were found positive for leptospiral antibodies (prevalence rate: 5.7%), but seroconversion was observed in only one case (incidence rate: 0.6%). The patient had had recent contact with possibly contaminated water. She had pulmonary involvement and signs of mild hepatic damage, but recovered fully.

CONCLUSION: The authors highlight the importance of testing for leptospirosis in case of pneumonia in endemic areas where the more common causative pathogens for CAP can not be documented and when initial empiric therapy is ineffective.

Keywords: community acquired pneumonia; Leptospira spp; epidemiology

Document Type: Short communication

Affiliations: 1: Unità Operativa Microbiologia Clinica, Bergamo, Italy 2: Unità Operativa di Pneumologia e Allergologia Respiratoria, USSL 29, Bergamo, Italy 3: Unità Operativa Pneumologia, Azienda Ospedaliera ‘Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo’, Bergamo, Italy 4: Centro per la Diagnosi delle leptospirosi, Unità Operativa Medico Tossicologica, Pavia, Italia

Publication date: 1998-09-01

More about this publication?

• The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease publishes articles on all aspects of lung health, including public health-related issues such as training programmes, cost-benefit analysis, legislation, epidemiology, intervention studies and health systems research. The IJTLD is dedicated to the continuing education of physicians and health personnel and the dissemination of information on tuberculosis and lung health world-wide.

  Certain IJTLD articles are selected for translation into French, Spanish, Chinese or Russian. They are available on the Union website

• Editorial Board
• Information for Authors
• Subscribe to this Title
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Internal Medicine
• By this author: V. Perani ;  C. Farina ;  L. Maggi ;  G. Michetti ;  F. Moioli ;  P. Pizzocaro ;  C. Pugliese

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers