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Legionnaires’ Disease

Kenneth A. Ballou, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Legionnaires’ disease was named for an epidemic of lower respiratory tract disease at the 1976 American Legion convention in Philadelphia. The previously unrecognized causative bacte...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Illness ranges from asymptomatic seroconversion and mild febrile illness to severe pneumonia.

  • Wound infections with Legionella also reported

  • Incubation period is 2 to 14 days.

HISTORY

  • Signs and ...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Supportive care:

    • Oxygenation, hydration, and electrolyte balance with antibiotic therapy

  • Extrapulmonary complications and higher mortality may be seen in patients with AIDS and...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Monitor respiratory status, hydration, and electrolyte status closely.

  • Chest radiography lags behind the clinical status and may not help with mo...

REFERENCES

1
Graham FF, Finn N, White P, et al. Global Perspective of Legionella Infection in Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Int J Environ...

ADDITIONAL READING

Metlay JP, Waterer GW, Long AC, et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Adults with Community-acquired Pneumonia: An Official Clinical Practice Guideline of the American Thorac...

SEE ALSO

Pneumonia, Bacterial 

CODES

ICD10

  • A48.2 Nonpneumonic Legionnaires' disease [Pontiac fever]

  • A48.1 Legionnaires' disease

SNOMED

  • 408681003 Healthcare associated Legionnaires' disease

  • 195889001 Legionella pneumonia

  • 240445005 Extrapu...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Consider Legionnaires’ disease in patients with pneumonia who have GI and other extrapulmonary findings (atypical CAP) and a relative bradycardia. Relative lymphopenia, mildly elevated...

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