Bronchitis and alveolitis in the course of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection

A case of a 38-year old male with respiratory failure in the course of infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae has been described. Inflammation of bronchioles and alveoli was diagnosed on the basis of clinical examination and analysis of cellular components of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The diagnosis was confirmed by bacteriological examination of the culture infected by the material collected from the patient. Therapy with doxycycline was instituted which resulted in remission of symptoms. The case described confirms the findings of other authors that infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae may be the cause of serious respiratory distress.