Legionellosis


Epidemiology

Risk Factors

  • Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (Anti-TNFα) Therapy (see Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Therapy, [[Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Therapy]]) (Clin Infect Dis, 2006) [MEDLINE]
    • Case Series of 10 Patients Reported from France
    • Agents
      • Adalimumab (xxx) (see Adalimumab, [[Adalimumab]])
      • Etanercept (xxx) (see Etanercept, [[Etanercept]])
      • Infliximab (xxx) (see Infliximab, [[Infliximab]])
    • Relative Risk: Adalimumab > Etanercept/Infliximab
  • Exposure in Large Hotel/Cruise Ship: symptoms usually occur weeks later
  • Exposure to Water Source
    • Condensers
    • Grocery Store Misters
    • Respiratory Care Devices
    • Showers
    • Whirlpools
  • Corticoteroid/Cytotoxic Administration: increases risk of nosocomial Legionella pneumonia (steroids also increase risk for community-acquired Legionella)
    • Previous antibiotic use and decreased consciousness were associated with a lower risk of nosocomial pneumonia

Microbiology


Diagnosis

Complete Blood Count (CBC) (see Complete Blood Count, [[Complete Blood Count]])

Sputum Gram Stain and Culture

  • May Show Numerous Neutrophils, But Few or No Organisms

Urinary Legionella Antigen (RIA or ELISA)

  • Technique
    • Easy Sample to Obtain
    • Rapid Turnaround Time: available within hours
  • Sensitivity/Specificity
    • 90-95% Sensitive for Culture-Proven Cases of Serogroup-1 Legionella Pneumophila
      • Does Not Detect Some Legionella Pneumophila Serogroups and Some Other Legionella Species: therefore, it should not be the only test used
    • Highly Specific
  • Duration of Urinary Antigen Excretion: antigen excretion can persist after illness is cured

Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) Legionella Culture (see Bronchoscopy, [[Bronchoscopy]])

  • Culture is the Single Most Important Test for Legionella
  • Technique
    • Culture on Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract (BCYE) Agar
      • Requires 3 days for Growth
      • Negative Results are Not Reported for 1 Week
  • Sensitivity/Specificity
    • Detects All Legionella Species and Subgroups
    • False-Positive Results are Rare

Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) Legionella DFA (see Bronchoscopy, [[Bronchoscopy]])

  • Technique
    • Requires Lower Respiratory Tract Specimen
    • Results are Available Quickly
  • Sensitivity/Specificity
    • Monoclonal Reagents are Specific and Detect All Legionella Pneumophila Serogroups (But Not Other Legionella Species)
    • Specificity of Polyclonal Reagents Used for Serogroups Other than Legionella Pneumophila is Not Well-Defined

Legionella Serology


Clinical Manifestations of Pontiac Fever (see Pontiac Fever, [[Pontiac Fever]])


Clinical Manifestations of Legionnaires’ Disease

General Comments

Cardiovascular

Chest Pain (see Chest Pain, [[Chest Pain]])

Myocarditis/Pericarditis/Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis (see Myocarditis, [[Myocarditis]], Acute Pericarditis, [[Acute Pericarditis]], and Endocarditis, [[Endocarditis]])

Gastrointestinal Manifestations

Abdominal Pain (see Abdominal Pain, [[Abdominal Pain]])

Diarrhea (see Diarrhea, [[Diarrhea]])

Elevated Liver Function Tests (LFT’s)

Nausea/Vomiting (see Nausea and Vomiting, [[Nausea and Vomiting]])

Neurologic Manifestations

Headache (see Headache, [[Headache]])

Neurologic Abnormalities

Pulmonary Manifestations

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) (see Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, [[Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome]])

Alveolar or Interstitial Pneumonia

Lymphocytic Interstitial Pneumonia (see Lymphocytic Interstitial Pneumonia, [[Lymphocytic Interstitial Pneumonia]])

Pleural Effusion (see Pleural Effusion-Exudate, [[Pleural Effusion-Exudate]])

Rounded Atelectasis (see Rounded Atelectasis, [[Rounded Atelectasis]])

Renal Manifestations

Acute Interstitial Nephritis (see Acute Interstitial Nephritis, [[Acute Interstitial Nephritis]])

Hematuria (see Hematuria, [[Hematuria]])

Hyponatremia (see Hyponatremia, [[Hyponatremia]])

Proteinuria (see Proteinuria, [[Proteinuria]])

Rheumatologic Manifestations

Arthralgias/Myalgias (see xxxx, [[xxxx]])

Other Manifestations

Fever (see xxxx, [[xxxx]])


Treatment

Antibiotics


References