Ward E, Rog J
Department of Family Practice, Michigan State University Kalamazoo-Center for Medical Studies 49008, USA.
J Am Board Fam Pract. 1998 Jan-Feb;11(1):41-5. doi: 10.3122/15572625-11-1-41.
Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia is a rare disease that mimics infectious pneumonia. Most patients respond well to corticosteroid therapy.
We report a single case and findings from an English language literature search of MEDLINE using key words "bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia."
Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia should be considered when a patient with pneumonia does not respond to antibiotics and has multiple patchy infiltrates and characteristic bronchoalveolar lavage patterns. A tissue sample is required for definitive diagnosis. Infection by a multiresistant organism can occur with multiple antibiotic therapy and concomitant use of corticosteroids, particularly when no initial infecting organism is identified.
