Coxiella burnetii and acute exacerbations/infections in patients with chronic lung disease

Respirology. 2007 Jul;12(4):619-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2007.01096.x.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of Q fever in patients with an acute exacerbation of a chronic lower respiratory tract infection. Eighty patients treated for acute exacerbation of chronic lower respiratory tract infections during a 30-month period were studied. Q fever was diagnosed by ELISA. Two elderly woman with pre-existing bronchiectasis (2.5%) were diagnosed as having an acute infection by Coxiella burnetii. The acute illness was considered to be a result of mixed infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae with C. burnetii. Co-infection with C. burnetii can occur during a bacterial exacerbation of a chronic lower respiratory tract infection.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bronchiectasis / epidemiology*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Haemophilus Infections / epidemiology
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Pseudomonas Infections / epidemiology
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / epidemiology
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / epidemiology
  • Q Fever / epidemiology*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / epidemiology