Pericarditis after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation caused by Legionella pneumophila (non-serogroup 1)

Infection. 2001 Jan-Feb;29(1):51-3. doi: 10.1007/s15010-001-0062-9.

Abstract

A case of Legionella pericarditis caused by a Legionella pneumophila isolate other than serogroup 1 is reported in a 59-year-old man after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. On admission a 5 mm pericardial effusion was detected on echocardiography. Antibodies were detected against L. pneumophila serogroups 7 to 14 using the antigen pool and against serogroup 12 alone. Antibodies were not detected against the serogroup 1 to 6 antigen pool. The patient's clinical condition improved dramatically after treatment with clarithromycin and an echocardiography revealed the total disappearance of the pericardial effusion.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis
  • Clarithromycin / therapeutic use
  • Echocardiography
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Legionella pneumophila / classification
  • Legionella pneumophila / immunology
  • Legionella pneumophila / isolation & purification*
  • Legionnaires' Disease / drug therapy
  • Legionnaires' Disease / etiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pericardial Effusion / microbiology*
  • Pericarditis / drug therapy
  • Pericarditis / etiology*
  • Serotyping
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Clarithromycin