Laboratory examinations can identify the organism and detect the signs of infection. Patients who develop psittacosis require treatment with specific drugs. The disease is very responsive to tetracycline but is resistant to penicillin. Psittacosis is an occupational health hazard for many people whose work brings them into contact with birds. Preventive measures include feeding birds properly, avoiding overcrowding, and adequate ventilation systems.
Clean cages are also important.
However, the owner or person in charge should contact a veterinarian for any treatment and subsequent testing that may be required. Workers should know the risk of routinely mixing antibiotics into animal feed. In such situations, the concern is that antibiotic-resistant bacteria might develop in workers who contact the animals or their feed. This resistance makes the traditional diseases more difficult to treat and control. Workers should keep infected birds in isolation and ensure these places are properly ventilated.