An unusual cause of sepsis during pregnancy: recognizing infection with chlamydophila abortus.
BACKGROUND
Chlamydophila abortus (formerly Chlamydia psittaci serovar 1) is a rare but severe cause of gestational septicemia, with particular problems in diagnosis and clinical management.


METHODS
A 32-year-old woman in her fourth pregnancy (16th week of gestation) presented with progressive septicemia after extensive contact with abortive material from her goat flock. Treatment with levofloxacin could not prevent abortion. Multiorgan failure requiring catecholamines and artificial ventilation developed in the patient. After the agent was identified by polymerase chain reaction from acute-phase serum, macrolides were administered and yielded clinical improvement. The patient fully recovered. There were no sequelae in the subsequent 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Cp abortus must be considered in gestational septicemia after contact with ruminants. Polymerase chain reaction from acute-phase serum is a quick and easy way to establish the diagnosis. Macrolide antibiotics are still the treatment of choice.
Walder
Gernot
G
Department of Hygiene and Social Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria, and Department of Anesthesiology, Regional Hospital of Sterzing, Sterzing, Italy. gernot.walder@uibk.ac.at
Hotzel
Helmut
H
Brezinka
Christoph
C
Gritsch
Walter
W
Tauber
Robert
R
Würzner
Reinhard
R
Ploner
Franz
F
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002691:Chlamydophila psittaci / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D064704:Levofloxacin; D018942:Macrolides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D009956:Psittacosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015047:Zoonoses
D018942:Macrolides; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin