Acute Legionella pneumophila infection masquerading as acute alcoholic hepatitis.
A middle-aged man had deteriorated rapidly in hospital after being misdiagnosed with acute alcoholic hepatitis. Acute Legionnaires disease (Legionellosis) was subsequently diagnosed on rapid antigen urinary testing and further confirmed serologically. This led to appropriate antibiotic treatment and complete clinical resolution. Physicians caring for patients with alcohol-related liver disease should consider Legionella pneumophila in their differential diagnosis even with a paucity of respiratory symptoms.
Department of Medicine, Redcliffe Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. jonhunter@live.com.au
Jonathan Michael
JM
Hunter
Julian
J
Chan
Angeline Louise
AL
Reid
Chistopher
C
Tan
D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000652:urine*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006519:Hepatitis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial