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Pleural effusion caused by Rickettsia felis infection
Hong Ren1, Yingying Zhang1, Xue Zhang1
1Respiratory Ward 2, Harbin Chest Hospital, Heilongjiang, China.
Introduction:
Rickettsia felis, a Gram-negative obligate intracellular prokaryotic organism, causes human infections with atypical clinical presentations, commonly including fever, fatigue, headache, and maculopapular rash.
Case Presentation:
This study presents a rare case of pleural effusion (PE) associated with R. felis infection, confirmed through targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS). The patient showed significant clinical improvement and resolution of PE following empirical moxifloxacin followed by pathogen-directed therapy with rifampicin and azithromycin, along with supportive measures for circulation and immune function.
Conclusions:
This case report aims to enhance early diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for R. felis infections by sharing the diagnostic and management experience.