Q-fever pneumonia in the Negev region of Israel: a review of 20 patients hospitalised over a period of one year.
BACKGROUND
Three-hundred and forty-six patients with community acquired pneumonia were included in a prospective study of patients hospitalised over a 12-month period in the Soroka Medical Center in Beer-Sheva, Israel. Q-fever pneumonia (QFP) was diagnosed in 20 patients (5.8%). A detailed epidemiological and clinical description of this disease, is presented.


METHODS
QFP was diagnosed by conventional criteria using a commercial immunofluorescent assay.


RESULTS
The age of patients was 41 +/- 14 years (mean +/- S.D., range 20-69). Twelve of the patients were males. No concomitant or chronic disease was present in 16 patients. Chest radiograms revealed alveolar or air space pneumonia in 10 patients, bronchopneumonia in nine and interstitial pneumonia in one patient. The mean febrile period was 10.5 +/- 5.3 days. There was serological evidence of co-infection with Mycoplasma pneumonia in six patients, and with Legionella pneumophila in one patient. Patients treated with beta-lactam antibiotics recovered as quickly as those treated with tetracyclines or erythromycin.


CONCLUSIONS
The Negev region of Israel is an endemic area for Q-fever. The diagnosis of QFP can be made only on the basis of a specific serological test. Clinical, radiologic or laboratory findings are not diagnostically definitive. The importance of specific therapy is unclear.
Lieberman
D
D
Division of Internal Medicine, Soroka Medical Center of Kupat Holim, Faculty of the Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Lieberman
D
D
Boldur
I
I
Manor
E
E
Hoffman
S
S
Schlaeffer
F
F
Porath
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents