Diagnosis of Chlamydia pneumoniae
Chlamydia pneumoniae Diagnosis: Book Excerpts
Diagnostic Tests for Chlamydia pneumoniae: Online Medical Books
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Pneumonia:
Diagnosis
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Clinical features, chest X-ray showing infiltrates, and sputum smear demonstrating acute inflammatory cells support the diagnosis. Gram stain and sputum culture may identify the organism. Positive blood cultures in the patient with pulmonary infiltrates strongly suggest pneumonia produced by the organisms isolated from the blood cultures. Pleural effusions, if present, should be tapped and fluid analyzed for evidence of infection in the pleural space. Occasionally, a transtracheal aspirate of tracheobronchial secretions or bronchoscopy with brushings or washings may be done to obtain material for smear and culture. The patient’s response to antimicrobial therapy also provides important evidence of the presence of pneumonia.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia:
Diagnosis
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
CONFIRMING DIAGNOSIS Histologic studies confirm P. carinii in all patients. Fiber-optic bronchoscopy remains the most commonly used study to confirm PCP. Invasive procedures, such as transbronchial biopsy and open-lung biopsy, are performed less commonly.
In patients with HIV infection, initial examination of a first-morning sputum specimen (induced by inhaling an ultrasonically dispersed saline mist) may be sufficient; however, this technique usually is ineffective in patients without HIV infection.
Chest X-rays may show slowly progressing, fluffy infiltrates and, occasionally, nodular lesions or a spontaneous pneumothorax, but these findings must be differentiated from findings in other types of pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Gallium scan may show increased uptake over the lungs even when the chest X-ray appears relatively normal. Arterial blood gas (ABG) studies detect hypoxia and an increased A-a gradient.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Idiopathic bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia:
Diagnosis
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Diagnosis begins with a thorough patient history meant to exclude any known cause of bronchiolitis obliterans or diseases with a pathology that includes an organizing pneumonia pattern.
❑ Chest X-ray usually shows patchy, diffuse airspace opacities with a ground-glass appearance that may migrate from one location to another. High-resolution computed tomography scans show areas of consolidation. Except for the migrating opacities, these findings are nonspecific and present in many other respiratory disorders.
❑ Pulmonary function tests may be normal or show reduced capacities. The diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide is generally low.
❑ Arterial blood gas analysis usually shows mild to moderate hypoxemia at rest, which worsens with exercise.
❑ Blood tests reveal an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, an increased C-reactive protein level, an increased white blood cell count with a somewhat an increased proportion of neutrophils, and a minor rise in eosinophils. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM levels are normal or slightly increased, and the IgE level is normal.
❑ Bronchoscopy reveals normal or slightly inflamed airways. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained during bronchoscopy shows a moderate elevation in lymphocytes and, sometimes, elevated neutrophil and eosinophil levels. Foamy-looking alveolar macrophages may also be found.
CONFIRMING DIAGNOSIS Lung biopsy, thoracoscopy, or bronchoscopy is required to confirm the diagnosis of BOOP. Pathologic changes in lung tissue include plugs of connective tissue in the lumen of the bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveolar spaces.
These changes may occur in other types of bronchiolitis and in other diseases that cause organizing pneumonia. They also differentiate BOOP from constrictive bronchiolitis (characterized by inflammation and fibrosis that surrounds and may narrow or completely obliterate the bronchiolar airways). Although the pathologic findings in proliferative and constrictive bronchiolitis are different, the causes and presentations may overlap. Any known cause of bronchiolitis obliterans or organizing pneumonia must be ruled out before the diagnosis of BOOP is made.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Vitamin C deficiency:
Diagnosis
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Confirming diagnosis Serum ascorbic acid levels less than 0.2 mg/dl and white blood cell ascorbic acid levels less than 30 mg/dl help confirm the diagnosis.
Dietary history revealing an inadequate intake of ascorbic acid suggests vitamin C deficiency. A capillary fragility test may be performed on the patient’s forearm with a blood pressure cuff; it’s positive if more than 10 petechiae form after 5 minutes of pressure.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Pneumonia Variants:
Differential Overview
(Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis)
❑ Streptococcus pneumoniae
❑ Mycoplasma pneumoniae
❑ Haemophilus influenzae
❑ Chlamydia pneumoniae
❑ Influenza virus
❑ Staphylococcus aureus
❑ Mycobacterium tuberculosis
❑ Legionella pneumophila
❑ Klebsiella pneumoniae
❑ Pneumocystis carinii
❑ Chlamydia psittaci
❑ Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
❑ Hantavirus
Diagnostic Approach
Although the current consensus recommendations call for the use of broad spectrum empiric antibiotics without determining the cause of the pneumonia, clinical findings combined with low-tech bedside diagnostics, such as sputum Gram stain, can be surprisingly informative. As an example, in smokers with chronic bronchitis consider H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, and
B. catarrhalis.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis, 2007
Pneumonia:
Diagnosis
(Handbook of Diseases)
Clinical features, chest X-ray film showing infiltrates, and sputum smear demonstrating acute inflammatory cells support this diagnosis. Positive blood cultures in patients with pulmonary infiltrates strongly suggest pneumonia produced by the organisms isolated from the blood cultures.
Pleural effusions, if present, should be tapped and the fluid analyzed for evidence of infection in the pleural space. Occasionally, a transtracheal aspirate of tracheobronchial secretions or bronchoscopy with brushings or washings may be done to obtain material for smear and culture. The patient’s response to antimicrobial therapy also provides important evidence of the presence of pneumonia.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia:
Diagnosis
(Handbook of Diseases)
❑ Histologic studies confirm P. carinii. In patients with HIV infection, initial examination of a first-morning sputum specimen (induced by inhaling an ultrasonically dispersed saline mist) may be sufficient; however, this technique usually is ineffective in patients without HIV infection.
❑ Fiber-optic bronchoscopy remains the most commonly used study to confirm PCP. Invasive procedures, such as transbronchial biopsy and open-lung biopsy, are less common.
❑ Chest X-ray may show slowly progressing, fluffy infiltrates and, occasionally, nodular lesions or a spontaneous pneumothorax. However, these findings must be differentiated from findings in other types of pneumonia or adult respiratory distress syndrome.
❑ Gallium scan may show increased uptake over the lungs even, when the chest X-ray appears relatively normal.
❑ Arterial blood gas (ABG) studies detect hypoxia and an increased alveolar-arterial gradient.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia, idiopathic:
Diagnosis
(Handbook of Diseases)
Diagnosis begins with a thorough patient history meant to exclude any known cause of bronchiolitis obliterans or diseases with a pathology that includes an organizing pneumonia pattern.
❑ Chest X-ray usually shows patchy, diffuse airspace opacities with a ground-glass appearance that may migrate from one location to another. High-resolution computed tomography scans show areas of consolidation. Except for the migrating opacities, these findings are nonspecific and present in many other respiratory disorders.
❑ Pulmonary function tests may be normal or show reduced capacities. The diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide is generally low.
❑ Arterial blood gas analysis usually shows mild to moderate hypoxemia at rest, which worsens with exercise.
❑ Blood tests reveal an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, increased C-reactive protein level, and increased white blood cell count with a somewhat increased proportion of neutrophils and a minor rise in eosinophils. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM levels are normal or slightly increased, and the IgE level is normal.
❑ Bronchoscopy reveals normal or slightly inflamed airways. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained during bronchoscopy shows a moderate elevation in lymphocyte levels and, sometimes, elevated neutrophil and eosinophil levels. Foamy-looking alveolar macrophages may also be found.
Lung biopsy, thoracoscopy, or bronchoscopy is required to confirm the diagnosis of BOOP. Pathologic changes in lung tissue include plugs of connective tissue in the lumen of the bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveolar spaces.
These changes may occur in other types of bronchiolitis and in other diseases that cause organizing pneumonia. They also differentiate BOOP from constrictive bronchiolitis, characterized by inflammation and fibrosis that surround and may narrow or completely obliterate the bronchiolar airways. Although the pathologic findings in proliferative and constrictive bronchiolitis are different, the causes and presentations may overlap. Any known cause of bronchiolitis obliterans or organizing pneumonia must be ruled out before the diagnosis of BOOP is made.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Community-acquired Pneumonia:
Diagnosis
(Pediatric Infectious Disease)
Basic Diagnostic Approach
The proportion of children with pneumonia who are diagnosed with a specific
etiology is low. Unlike adults, children usually do not produce adequate sputum
specimens for Gram stain and culture. Blood cultures have a yield of less than
10% in patients with bacterial pneumonia.
“Lung puncture” studies that are conducted in developing countries are obviously not met with
enthusiasm in general pediatric practices. Prospective studies that have
employed sensitive antibody tests and polymerase chain reaction techniques have
suggested that in up to 20% of pediatric community-acquired pneumonias, the
infection is
“mixed” (i.e., both
S. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae or C. pneumoniae); in these cases, the primary pathogen is not clear. Authors of these studies
have also suggested that mixed infection with bacteria and respiratory viruses
is likely to be common as
well.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Pediatric Infectious Disease, 2004
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