Open Journal of Internal Medicine, 2011, 1, 6-8 OJIM
doi:10.4236/ojim.2011.11003 Published Online June 2011 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ojim/).
Published Online June 2011 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/OJIM
Staphylococcus haemolyticus superinfection of legionella
pneumonia during infliximab therapy
Marianna Porzio, Luca Valenti, Daniela Bignamini, Francesca Ricchini, Alessandro Palleschi*,
Paolo Tarsia, Silvia Fargion
Department of Internal Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS “Ca’ Granda” Ospedale Policlinico;
*Thoracic Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS “Ca’ Granda” Ospedale Policlinico;
Department of Pulmonary Disease, Fondazione IRCCS “Ca’ Granda” Ospedale Policlinico, Milano.
E-mail: marianna.porzio@studenti.unimi.it
Received 3 May 2011; revised 9 June 2011, accepted 18 June 2011..
ABSTRACT
We present the case of a 42-year-old man affected by
psoriasis with Staphylococcus Haemolyticus superin-
fection of Legionella pneumonia during infliximab
therapy. The introduction of compounds that block
TNF-α has yielded great benefits for patients affected
by selected autoimmune diseases that fail to respond
to classic anti-inflammatory agents, but, on the other
hand, has led to an increased susceptibility to infec-
tions, in particular of those caused by intracellular
pathogens, such as L. Pneumophila. Emerging evi-
dence suggests that legionellosis can be complicated
by superinfection with other agents, including sap-
rophytic microorganisms, among which coagulase-
negative staphylococci. To our knowledge, this is the
first report of systemic legionellosis with superinfec-
tion by S. Haemolyticus, an emerging nosocomial
multi-resistant pathogen that commonly causes sep-
ticemia, osteomyelitis or endocarditis, but has not so
far been associated with necrotizing pneumonia. De-
spite the optimal antimicrobial therapy for Staphylo-
coccus spp. Pneumonia is still controversial, evidence
suggests that in patients with confirmed positivity for
methicillin resistant strains, particularly if sensitivity
to vancomycin is suboptimal, linezolid should be the
first choice therapy, being superior to vancomycin
and teicoplanin.
Keywords: Infliximab; Legionella Pneumophila; Line-
zolid; Necrotizing Pneumon ia; Psoriasis; Staphylococcu s
Haemolyticus
1. INTRODUCTION
On September 2010, a 42-year-old man presented to the
emergency department because of fever, productive
cough, and chest pain. He had a history of psoriasis, pre-
viously treated with acitretine 25 mg, which was discon-
tinued because of dyslipidemia. Nine months before the
current admission he required hospitalization for
erythrodermic psoriasis. Since then, he was treated with
infliximab, and received the eighth infusion one week
before presentation. Due to the incomplete control of
disease activity, he was concurrently started on meth-
otrexate (10 mg s.c.). Five days before admission he
reported the abrupt onset of fever which reached 39˚C,
dry cough, asthenia, and burning pain in the right sub-
scapular region, which were unresponsive to aceta-
minophen and amoxicillin-clavulanate.
On admission the temperature was 39.5˚C, blood
pressure 12580 mmHg, pulse 115, respiratory rate 24,
peripheral oxygen saturation 98% while he was breath-
ing ambient air. Clinical examination revealed bilateral
latero-cervical lymph nodes (soft, non-tender, and mo-
bile, < 2 cm), regular heart activity, slight rales at the left
lower lobe, and splenomegaly. An electrocardiogram
showed sinus tachycardia without alterations of the ST
tract; biochemical test are shown in Table 1. Chest Rx
showed a right middle lobe infiltrate (Figure 1(a)). Ab-
dominal ultrasonography was only notable for spleno-
megaly (153 mm). Oxygen supplementation and hydra-
tion were provided.
Microbiological analyses of blood were repeatedly
negative and sputum was negative for M. tuberculosis
and other microorganisms; L. Pneumophila serotype 1
antigen was detected in urine samples. Intravenous
levofloxacin 750 mg/day was started with improvement
in systemic symptoms, and correction within 5 days of
the alterations of creatine-phosphokinase levels, and
hyponatremia, (Table 1). Because of the persistence of
unremitting fever (> 38˚C), and increased inflammatory
markers, azithromycin 500 mg/day was added on day 5.
Blood cultures remained negative, as well as autoimmu-
nity markers.
M. Porzio et al. / Open Journal of Internal Medicine 1 (2011) 6-8
Copyright © 2011 SciRes. OJIM
7
One week after admission, the patient underwent a
chest computed tomography (CT) scan showing upper
and middle right lobe extensive infiltrate with an aerial
bronchogram and patchy ground-glass infiltrates in the
upper left lobe, minimal pleural and pericardial effusions
and multiple bilateral supraclavicular, paratracheal, un-
dercarinal, and axillary lymphoadenopathies (up to 1.5
cm). On day 8 Staphylococcus Haemolyticus was iso-
lated from the sputum, but initially interpreted as a con-
taminant (supplementary Tab le 1). A bronchoscopy was
performed on day 10: the airways appeared normal and
cytologic examination of bronchoalveolar-lavage (BAL)
specimens of the right lobes revealed acute inflammation,
but not malignant cells. Tests were negative for M. Tu-
bercolosis, Aspergillus spp, P. Jirovecii, Epstein-Barr
Virus, Cytomegalovirus, Respiratory Syncythial virus
multiplex PCR, whereas a nested PCR-based assay con-
firmed the positivity for L. Pneumophila.
Broad-spectrum empirical antimicrobical therapy was
started including piperacillin-tazobactam and imipenem
(day 10); while clindamycin 600 mg t.i.d. i.v. was added
on day 14 according to the S. Haemolyticus antibiogram
(supplementary table), without benefit.
On day 15 a CT scan was repeated, which showed the
progression of the right pulmonary infiltrate with areas
of colliquation and excavation (Figure 1(b)). Rifampicin
replaced previous empirical therapy on day 17 because
of the reported synergic effect with fluoroquinolones,
and macrolides in the treatment of resistant legionellosis
in immunosuppressed patients [1].
To exclude an immunosuppression related lymphomas,
laterocervical lymph node biopsy was performed, which
showed a reactive inflammatory pattern. A positron
emission tomography CT scan showed inflammation in
the right upper and lower pulmonary lobes and in the
mediastinal lymph nodes.
Several reports highlited an increased risk of infection
by atypical pathogens associated with infliximab, in-
cluding M. Tubercolosis, Listeria, Pneumococcus, Le-
gionella, Salmonella, and Bartonella spp.), fungi, and
viruses [2]. Although the patient chest Rx and protein
purified derivative intradermoreaction were negative
before starting infliximab and BAL was PCR negative
for M.Tubercolosis, a quantiferon test for Mycobacte-
rium was performed, but it confirmed negativity for
M.Tubercolosis. An echocardiogram was carried out on
day 21, with no evidence of endocarditis.
To exclude a pulmonary superinfection, a CT-guided
needle-aspiration of the pulmonary lesion was per-
formed, with isolation of rare colonies of S. Haemo-
lyticus (supplementary Table 1). Vancomycin (minimal
inhibitory concentration (MIC): 1) was started i.v. (day
22) without response. In view of the sub-optimal MIC,
incomplete pulmonary diffusion of vancomycin, and
the relatively low plasma concentration achieved after
treatment titration (12.5 µg/mL), linezolid (600 mg td
i.v.) was introduced on day 33, with immediate remis-
sion of fever and normalization of inflammatory indi-
ces (Table 1). The patient was discharged on day 45. A
chest CT scan after 4 weeks demonstrated resolution of
the inflammatory infiltrates and a reduction of the ex-
cavated areas.
This case is notable for several aspects. The introduc-
tion into clinical practice of compounds that block
TNF-α has yielded great benefits for patients affected by
selected autoimmune diseases that fail to respond to
classic anti-inflammatory agents, but, on the other hand,
has led to an increased su sceptibility to infections [3 ], in
particular of those caused by intracellular pathogens [4],
and L. Pneumophila pneumonia has been reported as a
life-threatening infection that frequently complicates
anti-TNF-α therapy [3]. In line with our experience,
evidence is accumulating that legionellosis, particularly
in patients under immunosuppressive therapy, can be
complicated by superinfection with other agents, includ-
ing saprophytic microorganisms. Furthermore, positivity
for Legionella DNA may persist despite appropriate
treatment in immunocompromised patients, and lung
colliquative necrosis supports a diagnosis of coinfection
with other bacterial agents. To our knowledg e, this is th e
first report of systemic legionellosis with superinfection
by S. Haemolyticus, an emerging nosocomial multire-
sistant pathogen that commonly causes septicemia, os-
teomyelitis or endocarditis, but h as not so far been asso-
ciated with necrotizing pneumonia [5].
Finally, despite the optimal antimicrobial therapy for
Staphylococcus spp. pneumonia is still controversial,
evidence suggests th at in cases with confirmed p ositivity
(a) (b)
Figure 1. (a) Chest X-ray on admission: right middle lobe
infiltrate and left mild perihilar infiltrate; (b) Chest CT scan
(day 15): upper right lobe extensive infiltrate with areas of
colliquation and excavation (arrowheads) and patchy ground-
glass infiltrates in the upper right lobe (arrows).
M. Porzio et al. / Open Journal of Internal Medicine 1 (2011) 6-8
Copyright © 2011 SciRes. OJIM
8
Table 1. Laboratory data.
Hb: hemoglobin; WBC: white blood cells; CRP: C reactive protein; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; CPK: creatine phos-
phokinase; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; PT: prothrombin time; aPTT: activated partial th romboplastin time; BE: base excess, na: n ot available.
for methicillin resistant strains, particularly if sensitivity
to vancomycin is suboptimal as in our case, linezolid
might be superior to vancomycin and teicoplanin be-
cause of the better penetration into lung allowing to
reach sustained concentrations above the MIC.
In conclusion, clinicians should be aware of the in-
creased risk of severe and difficult-to-treat infections by
atypical and saprophytic pathogens in the increasing
number of patients treated anti-TNF-α agents. Among
them, S. Haemolyticus is an emergent nosocomial
pathogen, which may be associated with necrotizing
pneumonia. Long-term follow-up and systematic as-
sessment of infective episodes may help to better define
the clinical risk carried by anti-TNF-α agents in every-
day clinical practice, and possib ly to identify risk factors
for these complications.
2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank all the staff members of the Internal Medicine 1B ward for
helpful suggestions and discussion.
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Reference Admission Day 5 Day 22 Day 33 Discharge (day 45)
Hb (g/dl) 13.5 - 17.5 14.8 11.3 9.5 9.1 9.6
WBCs (µl) 4.8 - 10.8 15250 12720 8090 4560 6390
Neutrophils % - 91 77 68 73 59
CRP (mg/dl) < 0.5 67.05 16.89 4.80 8.14 0.81
Procalcitonin (ng/mL) 0.02 - 0.06 17.16 na 0.06 0.18 0.08
AST (UI/ml) 5 - 38 80 81 24 17 21
ALT (UI/ml) 5 - 41 33 68 25 14 13
CPK (UI/ml) 38 - 174 1806 1065 16 15 16
LDH (UI/ml) 240 - 480 1076 691 307 341 256
PT ratio 0.89 - 1.16 1.3 1.24 1.23 1.2 1.07
aPTT ratio 0.85 - 1.18 1.38 1.06 1.12 1.15 1.10
Creatinine (mg/dL) 0.50 - 1.20 0.82 0.48 0.5 0.60 0.73
Na+ (mEq/L) 135 - 145 125 140 140 141 142
K+ (mEq/L) 3.30 - 5.10 3.6 4.1 4 3.1 4.3
Cl (mEq/L) 96 - 108 90 103 101 101 104
TSH (mIU/mL) 0.280 - 4.300 4.07 na na na na
pH 7.35 - 7.45 7.51 na 7.54 na 7.53
pO2 (mmHg) 83 - 108 72 na 78 na 102
pCO2 (mmHg) 32 - 48 26 na 28 na 36
HCO3 (mEq/L) 24 - 26 24 na 23.9 na 30
Lactate mEq/L 0.5 - 2.0 1.5 na 1.2 na 1.4
BE –2 - +2 –2.3 na 1.9 na 7.4