Doxycycline desensitization in chronic Q fever—A critical tool for the clinician

Abstract

We present the case of a 45 year old woman with acute Q fever pneumonia who progressed to the chronic phase of the disease despite azithromycin therapy. A trial of doxycycline was halted because of severe allergy and she was put on clarithromycin and later moxifloxacin. Failure of both drugs required desensitization to doxycycline with escalating doses. After two-year treatment with doxycycline-hydroxychloroquine combination, complete recovery was declared. Our case highlights the option of doxycycline desensitization when an acute allergic reaction poses an obstacle to optimal treatment.

Keywords

• Q fever
• Coxiella burnetii
• Doxycycline
• Desensitization
• Moxifloxacin
• Clarithromycin