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Published on: October 23, 2013
Diagnosis of severe Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia by metagenomic next-generation sequencing: 2 case reports
Chunhua Luo1, Yanping Lin1,2, Chengwen Chen1
1Department of Intensive Care Unit, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 950 Donghai Street, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China.
Abstract:
Psittacosis is a infectious disease caused by Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci), which presents as pneumonia in humans. The diagnosis of psittacosis is challenging, however, Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (MNGS) is very efficient. Herein we documented the clinical characteristics of two patients with severe C. psittaci pneumonia who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. C. psittaci nucleic acid sequences were detected by MNGS of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from both patients. Doxycycline was administered and the treatment was effective. Implementation of MNGS is helpful for the early identification of pathogens, shortening the diagnosis and treatment time, and improving the prognosis of patients.
Insights
Psittacosis, a severe pneumonia caused by Chlamydia psittaci, can be effectively diagnosed using Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (MNGS). Early MNGS identification and doxycycline treatment improved patient outcomes in two severe cases.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Genomics
Background:
- Psittacosis, caused by Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci), is an infectious disease that manifests as pneumonia in humans.
- Diagnosing psittacosis can be challenging, necessitating advanced diagnostic techniques for timely and accurate identification.
Observation:
- This study documents two severe cases of C. psittaci pneumonia in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
- Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (MNGS) was employed to analyze bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from both patients.
Findings:
- MNGS successfully detected C. psittaci nucleic acid sequences in both severe pneumonia cases.
- Treatment with doxycycline was administered and proved effective in managing the infection.
Implications:
- Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (MNGS) facilitates early pathogen identification, significantly shortening diagnosis and treatment timelines.
- The implementation of MNGS can lead to improved patient prognosis in cases of severe psittacosis pneumonia.
