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Recurrent soft tissue abscesses caused by Legionella cincinnatiensis
1Department of Medicine, Stadtspital Triemli, CH-8063 Zürich, Switzerland. jacques.gubler@triemli.stzh.ch
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|November 29, 2001
Summary
Broad-spectrum PCR identified Legionella cincinnatiensis as the cause of recurrent soft tissue abscesses in a patient with nephrotic syndrome. This highlights Legionella as a potential, underdiagnosed cause of such infections.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Nephrotic syndrome and immunoglobulin A (IgA) gammopathy can predispose patients to infections.
- Recurrent soft tissue infections pose diagnostic challenges, especially when conventional cultures are negative.
Observation:
- A 73-year-old woman with nephrotic syndrome and IgA gammopathy presented with recurrent soft tissue abscesses.
- Microscopy showed gram-negative rods, but conventional cultures were negative.
Findings:
- Broad-spectrum PCR detected Legionella cincinnatiensis, later confirmed by culture.
- This is one of the few reported cases of non-pulmonary Legionella infection.
Implications:
- Broad-spectrum PCR is a valuable tool for diagnosing culture-negative bacterial infections.
- Legionella species may be an underrecognized cause of pyogenic soft tissue infections.