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Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Purification of Pathogen Vacuoles from Legionella-infected Phagocytes
09:25

Purification of Pathogen Vacuoles from Legionella-infected Phagocytes

Published on: June 19, 2012

Legionella pneumophila pneumonia successfully treated with intravenous ciprofloxacin

Shusaku Haranaga1, Masato Toyama, Noriko Arakaki

  • 1First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa.

Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|December 19, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Legionella pneumonia can occur during corticosteroid treatment. Intravenous ciprofloxacin proved highly effective, suggesting fluoroquinolones as a first-choice treatment for this infection in Japan.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pulmonology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Corticosteroid therapy can predispose patients to opportunistic infections.
  • Legionella pneumonia is a severe bacterial lung infection requiring effective antimicrobial treatment.

Observation:

  • A 69-year-old man on corticosteroids for erythroderma developed pneumonia with cough and fever.
  • Initial broad-spectrum antibiotics were ineffective; Legionella pneumonia was diagnosed via urinary antigen testing.

Findings:

  • Intravenous ciprofloxacin (CPFX) demonstrated rapid and remarkable efficacy in treating Legionella pneumonia.
  • Clinical symptoms, chest X-ray findings, and laboratory markers significantly improved following CPFX initiation.

Implications:

  • Intravenous fluoroquinolones, including ciprofloxacin, should be considered a primary treatment option for Legionella pneumonia in Japan.
  • This case highlights the importance of considering atypical infections in immunocompromised patients.
  • Prompt diagnosis and targeted therapy are crucial for favorable outcomes in Legionella pneumonia.

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