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Legionella pneumophila aortitis in a heart transplant recipient
Author(s) -
Guyot S.,
Goy J.J.,
Gersbach P.,
Jaton K.,
Blanc D.S.,
Zanetti G.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
transplant infectious disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1399-3062
pISSN - 1398-2273
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3062.2006.00174.x
Subject(s) - medicine , legionella pneumophila , aortitis , serology , ascending aorta , legionella , transplantation , surgery , aorta , antibiotics , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , genetics , antibody , biology
We describe the case of a patient with a culture‐proven infection of the ascending aorta caused by Legionella pneumophila 16 months after cardiac transplantation. Serology follow‐up and surveillance culture of the hospital water supply suggested a nosocomial acquisition of the infection during the post‐transplantation period. The diagnosis was made after 5 months of recurrent unexplained febrile episodes. A Teflon ring implanted around the aortic suture line during the intervention may have contributed to the unusual localization of the infection. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and aortic reconstruction.