CME: Legionella pneumonia

Abstract

CME: Legionella pneumonia Abstract. Legionnaire's disease is a usually severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila, a Gram-negative bacterium with an airborne transmission. The infection is acquired in the community, but cases of hospital acquisition from hot water systems have been described. The most common clinical features are cough, fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, hyponatremia and altered liver function tests. The mainstay investigations to confirm diagnosis are urine antigen, sputum polymerase chain reaction, sputum or bronchial alveolar lavage cultures. Standard antibiotic treatment are macrolides or fluoroquinolones.