Leptospirosis in Taiwan- An Underestimated Infectious Disease

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging infectious disease affecting both animals and humans worldwide. This infection is associ-ated with occupational contact with animals, recreational expo-sure and contact with leptospires as a consequence of flooding. Multiple organ involvement may be encountered in acute severe leptospirosis and early renal involvement is commonly characterized by tubulo-interstitial nephritis and tubular dys-function. Leptospirosis has been increasingly recognized as an important infectious disease in Taiwan since 1997 and Leptospira santarosai serovar Shermani is the main serovar encountered. The most common presentations are fever, jaun-dice and acute renal failure. This triad presentation in patients with acute multiple organ dysfunction should alert physicians to the possibility of leptospirosis. Penicillin treatment is effec-tive and may dramatically save patients from multiple orga