Psittacosis

Question 1

Psittacosis is an infection caused by which organism?

Answer 1

Chlamydia psittaci

Question 2

How does psittacosis typically present?

Answer 2

Like an atypical pneumonia

Suspect in patients with:
- fever and history of bird contact
- OR pneumonia and severe headache or organomegaly and failure to respond to antibiotics.

Question 3

In what age group is psittacosis most common?

Answer 3

Young adults

Question 4

How is chlamydia psittaci transmitted?

Answer 4

• typically from birds or bird secretions including urine and faeces, typically occurring after cleaning bird cages
• Transmission from other animals or humans is possible but very rare

Question 5

Signs on examination

Answer 5

Chest:
- unilateral crepitations and vesicular breathing (common), - evidence of pleural effusion (uncommon)

Abdomen:
- hepatomegaly and splenomegaly (rare)

Question 6

Investigation findings

Answer 6

Raised inflammatory markers
CXR: consolidation (90%)
Atypical pneumonia screen (confirmed by serology)

Question 7

Antibiotic treatment

Answer 7

1st-line: doxycycline
2nd-line: erythromycin