Evidence Hub

Chlamydia psittacosis infection complicating cerebral infarction: A case report and literature review

Gao J, Lao C, Chen J

Medicine, 2025

1 citation

Abstract

RATIONALE: Chlamydia psittaci (CP) pneumonia is a rare zoonosis. Severe infection predisposes patients to thrombotic complications; however, only 2 documented cases of delayed cerebral infarction occurring during anticoagulant therapy exist in the literature.

PATIENT CONCERNS: A 60-year-old female with a history of hypertension and a concealed history of avian exposure presented with fever, chest tightness, and dyspnea. Examination revealed severe hypoxemia (PaO2 46.8 mm Hg), systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein 343.65 mg/L), and multi-organ dysfunction.

DIAGNOSES: CP pneumonia; cerebral infarction.

INTERVENTIONS: Following definitive diagnosis via metagenomic next-generation sequencing of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, targeted antimicrobial therapy with omadacycline (100 mg daily) and moxifloxacin (400 mg daily) was initiated immediately. Concurrent interventions included mechanical ventilation and prophylactic anticoagulation with enoxaparin (5000 IU daily). Upon development of an acute cerebral infarction, the antithrombotic strategy was modified: anticoagulation was discontinued and dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin 100 mg/d + clopidogrel 75 mg/d) was commenced, alongside early rehabilitation in a dedicated stroke unit.

OUTCOMES: By day 5 of antimicrobial therapy, inflammatory markers decreased significantly and oxygenation improved. Neurological function showed partial recovery by day 14 postinfarction (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score reduced from…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case report, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free