Skip to main content

Legionnaires’ Disease

Kenneth A. Ballou, MD Reviewed 06/2022
 


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.

  • In ...

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
Adams  DA, Thomas  KR, Jajosky  RA, et al; for Nationally Notifiable Infectious Conditions Group. Summary of notifiable infectious diseases and conditions—United St...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Bellew S, Grijalva C, Williams D, et al. Pneumococcal and legionella urinary antigen tests in community-acquired pneumonia: Prospective evaluation of indications for test...

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

  • Legionella is an intracellular organism that can only be grown on BCYE agar.

  • Consider Legionnaires’ disease in patients with pneumonia who have GI and other extrapulmonary findings (aty...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

Sign Up for a 10-Day Free Trial

Sign up for a 10-day FREE Trial now and receive full access to all content.

 
×