[A case of Legionella pneumonia successfully treated with roxithromycin]

A 56-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of a high fever. An abnormal shadow was seen on his chest X-ray film. He was treated with piperacillin, isepamycin, and minocycline, but his fever remained and the abnormal shadow got worse. Because he had proteinuria, a severe headache, hyponatremia, and hypophosphatemia, Legionella pneumonia was suspected. A skin test for erythromycin was positive, so roxithromycin was given orally. By the next day the fever had remitted, the appearance of the chest X-ray film had improved, and his symptoms were promptly relieved. This case suggests that roxithromycin can be effective against Legionella pneumonia.