Clinical Review
Leptospirosis in a Patient with Schizophrenia
Case in Point
Fed Pract. 2008 August;25(8):35
Author and Disclosure Information
Martin F. Heyworth, MD, Leanne B. Gasink, MD, MSCE, and Donald D. Stieritz, PhD
Dr. Heyworth is the chief of staff at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center (PVAMC) and an adjunct professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) School of Medicine, both in Philadelphia. Dr. Gasink is an instructor in medicine at the UPenn School of Medicine. Dr. Stieritz is the former director of the diagnostic microbiology laboratory in the pathology and laboratory medicine service at the PVAMC.
This patient exhibited acute manifestations of leptospirosis—but, initially, negative serology. These authors explain how they handled this case, which was made more challenging by the patient’s mental state.