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Chlamydia pneumoniae causes both upper and lower tract respiratory infections and may be involved in outbreaks (alone or together with other respiratory pathogens), especially among high-risk populations in close-contact settings. In the past, diagnosis has depended on serologic testing, but quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays are now available.
From November 2009 through February 2010, an outbreak of respiratory illness occurred at a male federal correctional institution in Texas, which held 1574 inmates in two housing units. Symptoms included low-grade fever, dry cough, and body aches. When no clear etiology was ascertained, an investigation was launched.
The investigators reviewed the records of 52 inmates with acute respir…