Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia associated with acute Coxiella burnetii infection

Abstract

We report the case of a 62-year-old man who developed bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP) associated with acute Coxiella burnetii infection. The diagnosis of BOOP was made by fiber-optic transbronchial biopsy. Treatment with corticosteroids resulted in rapid clinical improvement and complete resolution of airspace opacities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first well-documented case of BOOP associated with C. burnetii infection. This case suggests that this infection might trigger the development of BOOP.