Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis from the lower respiratory tract of adults.

Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from the lower respiratory tract of six patients who had pulmonary infection, the severity varying from acute bronchitis to severe diffuse interstitial pneumonia. The latter appeared in four immunosuppressed patients, from three of whom cytomegalovirus was also isolated. Therapy directed against C. trachomatis resulted in prompt clinical improvement in three patients. Two patients died. C. trachomatis causes disease in the adult respiratory tract, the prevalence of which has yet to be determined, and it may be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the immunosuppressed patient.