Salami worker's lung
Rivero, M.G.; Basile, L.M.; Salvatore, A.J.; Fridlender, H.; Maxit, M.
Medicina 59(4): 367-369
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7680 PMID: 10752202 Document Number: 498163
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is the clinical manifestation of an pulmonary immunological reaction to inhaled antigens. The list of provocative antigens and specific illnesses grows permanently. A woman of 56 years consulted for dyspnea and cough of two months of evolution. She worked in a factory of sausages removing the dust that recovers the salamis during their stationing. She presented hypoxemia and the pulmonary function test revealed a predominantly obstructive pattern. The x-ray of the thorax was normal and the high resolution computed tomography showed a mosaic pattern. A lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of HP. She improved with systemic corticosteroids and the avoidance of antigen exposure. In the cultures of the material that recovers the salamis, Penicillium spp. was recovered and was interpreted as the probable etiological agent of this HP, which we have denominated "the salami worker's lung".