Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia mimicking community-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia is a rare disease that mimics infectious pneumonia. Most patients respond well to corticosteroid therapy. METHODS We report a single case and findings from an English language literature search of MEDLINE using key words "bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia." RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia should be considered when a patient with pneumonia does not respond to antibiotics and has multiple patchy infiltrates and characteristic bronchoalveolar lavage patterns. A tissue sample is required for definitive diagnosis. Infection by a multiresistant organism can occur with multiple antibiotic therapy and concomitant use of corticosteroids, particularly when no initial infecting organism is identified.