Outbreak of Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection in long-term care facilities and an affiliated hospital.

This paper reports an outbreak of Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection in long-term care facilities and an affiliated hospital. The outbreak involved rapid spread of infection, and was inconsistent with several outbreaks experienced among younger populations. In addition, there were differences in the incidences among facilities and the affiliated hospital in relation to mean age. Our findings indicate that it is possible that elderly residents may be more susceptible to acquiring this infection. Physicians and other health care providers in long-term care facilities should consider C. pneumoniae in the differential diagnosis of an outbreak of respiratory infection.