Psittacosis
Revision as of 16:44, 23 November 2014 by Rossdonaldson1 (talk | contribs)
Background
- Lower respiratory zoonotic infection
- Caused by C. psittaci, an organism common to most birds
- Contracted by inhaling dust from dried bird feces, feather dust, or avian respiratory droplets
Clinical Features
- Incubation period of 5-14 days
- Abrupt onset fever, chills, headache, myalgias, malaise
- Pneumonia is atypical - nonproductive cough, lobar or interstitial infiltrates on CXR.
- Extrapulmonary manifestations - heart, CNS, liver, spleen, kidneys
Differential Diagnosis
Other lower respiratory zoonotic infections
- Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)
- Brucellosis (Brucella species)
- Q fever (C. burnetti)
- Pasteurellosis (Pasteurella multocida)
- Melioidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei)
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (R. rickettsii)
- Pulmonic Plague (Yersinia pestis)
- Influenza A
- Hantavirus
Treatment
- Macrolides (azithromycin, clarithromycin, or erythromycin) for 7-14 days
or
- Tetracyclines (doxycycline 100 mg PO BID) for 7-14 days
See Also
Source
Tintinalli