Key result
Levofloxacin successfully treats acute focal myocarditis and new-onset systolic HF complicating severe Legionella pneumonia.
Why the study?
Legionnaire’s disease can rarely involve the heart and present as myocarditis, pericarditis, or endocarditis, but such cases are not well characterized.
Case Report (n=1)
Legionella infection can rarely present as focal myocarditis and should be considered in patients with unexplained myocardial damage or inflammation.
May warrant troponin/echo evaluation in Legionella pneumonia; extends sparse case reports but leaves causal link open.
Legionnaire’s disease (LD) is a severe form of atypical pneumonia caused by any species of Legionella. LD can rarely involve the heart and present as myocarditis, pericarditis, or endocarditis. We report a case of focal myocarditis secondary to Legionella. A 49-year-old male was admitted to the hospital for shortness of breath and found to have Legionella pneumonia. An echocardiogram was done because of elevated troponin and shortness of breath, which revealed the new onset of systolic heart failure and focal hypokinesis. The patient received a total of 10 days of levofloxacin 750 mg, and he was discharged home with a cardiology follow-up. This case highlights that Legionella infection should be suspected in patients with unexplained myocardial damage/inflammation.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Khan et al. (2022) conducted a case report in Acute focal myocarditis secondary to severe Legionella infection (n=1). Levofloxacin was evaluated. A 49-year-old male with severe Legionella pneumonia developed acute focal myocarditis and new-onset systolic heart failure, which was successfully treated with a 10-day course of levofloxacin.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: