Psittacosis pneumonia: a case report and review of the literature.

A case of acute, severe pneumonia with respiratory insufficiency due to Chlamydia psittaci is described. Rapid improvement with tetracycline therapy in all symptoms and arterial blood gases is demonstrated. The diagnosis of psittacosis was secured by both cultivation and serological verification. A comprehensive review of the literature is appended. The present report attests to the need for inclusion of C. psittaci as a possible aetiologic agent causing fulminating community-acquired pneumonia.