Adenovirus pneumonia in an immunocompetent adult

Adenovirus pneumonias are reported relatively commonly in pediatric or immunocompromised patients, but the clinical presentation of adenovirus pneumonia in immunocompetent hosts is not well known. We treated an immunocompetent 42-year-old man with mild adenovirus pneumonia following pharyngitis and conjunctivitis. Diagnosis was established on the basis of chest radiologic findings, detection of adenovirus type 7 DNA by PCR assay in material obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and a greater than fourfold rise in adenovirus-specific antibody titers during the course of illness. The patient's self-limiting symptoms improved within 2 weeks, and chest radiologic findings improved within 4 weeks. PCR assay of material obtained by BAL was useful for the rapid diagnosis of adenovirus pneumonia.