Pneumonia, Chlamydophila

Chlamydophila pneumoniae (formerly known as Chlamydia pneumoniae) causes pneumonia and bronchitis

C pneumoniae causes approximately 10% of community-acquired pneumonias

C pneumoniae is second only to Mycoplasma as an agent of atypical pneumonia

The clinical presentation is that of an atypical pneumonia

Microimmunofluorescence or complement fixation test of acute and convalescent sera

Strains of C pneumoniae are resistant to sulfonamides

Erythromycin or tetracycline, 500 mg four times daily orally for 10–14 days, appears to be effective

Fluoroquinolones, such as levofloxacin, 500 mg orally or moxifloxacin 400 mg orally once daily for 7–14 days, are active in vitro against C pneumoniae and are probably effective; ciprofloxacin has inferior antichlamydial activity compared with the newer fluoroquinolones

It is unclear if empiric coverage for atypical pathogens in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia provides a survival benefit or improves clinical outcome