Radiographic appearance of Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR strain) respiratory infections. CBPIS Study Group. Community-based Pneumonia Incidence Study.
OBJECTIVE
To report the spectrum of radiographic findings associated with a new respiratory pathogen: Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR strain).


METHODS
Radiographs of 55 adult patients hospitalized with serologic evidence of C pneumoniae were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
On the basis of serologic criteria, two types of acute respiratory infection are possible: primary (first exposure) infections and recurrent, acute infection in a previously exposed individual. In the primary group, alveolar opacities (65%) with a unilateral distribution (71%) were most common at admission. Cavitary disease and hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy were uncommon. Small to medium-sized pleural effusions were common in both primary and recurrent groups during hospitalization. Also, both groups tended to progress to bilateral, mixed, interstitial and alveolar changes during the course of infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Different radiographic patterns exist for the two types of acute C pneumoniae infection.
McConnell
C T
CT
Department of Radiology, Ohio State University, Columbus.
Plouffe
J F
JF
File
T M
TM
Mueller
C F
CF
Wong
K H
KH
Skelton
S K
SK
Marston
B J
BJ
Breiman
R F
RF
D000208:Acute Disease; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies