Pneumonia Due to Chlamydia trachomatis in an Immunocompromised Adult

CHLAMYDIA trachomatis infection has been associated with a wide spectrum of syndromes ranging from ocular to genital-tract diseases. It has been implicated as the cause of a pneumonitis syndrome in infants.¹,² Tack et al. have reported on six patients with various underlying conditions (chronic bronchitis, renal allografts, and acute lymphocytic leukemia), most of whom had radiographic evidence of pneumonia.³ C. trachomatis was isolated from sputum, bronchial brushings, or lung tissue in all six. However, the etiologic role of this organism in these patients with respiratory disease remained in question because no antibody to C. trachomatis was demonstrated in the serum.