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Coxiella burnetii infection of aortic aneurysms or vascular grafts: report of 30 new cases and evaluation of outcome

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Abstract

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. Polymorphic, the disease may present as an acute or chronic infection. Vascular infections are the second most common form of chronic Q fever, following endocarditis. Herein, we studied the outcome of 30 new cases of aortic infection caused by C. burnetii using uni- and multivariate analyses. The outcome of ten cases previously reported by our team was also updated. Of these 40 patients, 32 had a follow-up of ≥3 years. Among them, the overall mortality was of 25% (8/32). Vascular rupture was significantly and independently (multivariate P=0.03) associated with a lethal issue, whereas vascular surgery was significantly associated with recovery (uni- and multivariate P<0.01). Our findings demonstrate the critical importance of surgery in the management of C. burnetii vascular infections.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Drs. Alamartine, Becq-Giraudon, Besnier, Beytout, Bosseret, Bouchou, Cottin, Faux, Glichmanas, Hamidou, Heibel, Labrun, Martin, May, Millet, Perez, Raz, Tellez, and Vigier for providing clinical information, and Dr. Cutler for English revision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité des Rickettsies, CNRS UMR 6020, IFR 48, Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, 27 Blvd Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 5, France

    E. Botelho-Nevers, P.-E. Fournier, H. Richet, F. Fenollar, H. Lepidi, C. Foucault & D. Raoult

  2. Service de Chirurgie Vasculaire, Hôpital de la Timone, 13385, Marseille, France

    A. Branchereau

  3. Service de Chirurgie Vasculaire, Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, 13009, Marseille, France

    P. Piquet

  4. Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Hôpital Michallon, 38043, Grenoble, France

    M. Maurin

Authors
  1. E. Botelho-Nevers
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  2. P.-E. Fournier
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  3. H. Richet
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  4. F. Fenollar
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  5. H. Lepidi
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  6. C. Foucault
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  7. A. Branchereau
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  8. P. Piquet
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  9. M. Maurin
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  10. D. Raoult
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Correspondence to P.-E. Fournier.

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All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript and do not have any conflict of interest related to this research.

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Botelho-Nevers, E., Fournier, PE., Richet, H. et al. Coxiella burnetii infection of aortic aneurysms or vascular grafts: report of 30 new cases and evaluation of outcome. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 26, 635–640 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-007-0357-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-007-0357-6

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