-
Chest Oct 2001
Review
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Humans; Legionnaires' Disease; Physical Examination; Survival Rate
PubMed: 11591534
DOI: 10.1378/chest.120.4.1049 -
Journal of Epidemiology and Community... Jun 2003
Topics: Environmental Monitoring; Epidemiological Monitoring; Humans; Legionnaires' Disease
PubMed: 12775779
DOI: 10.1136/jech.57.6.396 -
Annals of Agricultural and... Dec 2023Legionella bacteria are commonly found in natural aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds and hot springs. Legionella infection occurs through the inhalation...
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE
Legionella bacteria are commonly found in natural aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds and hot springs. Legionella infection occurs through the inhalation of water-air aerosol generated, for example, by showers or hot tubs. The most common species responsible for infection is Legionella pneumophila, which can cause Pontiac fever, and Legionnaires' disease, as well as a rare extrapulmonary form. The aim of the study's is to assess the susceptibility of Legionella pneumophila bacteria isolated from water systems of public buildings in Poland to antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of Legionellosis pneumonia.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A total of 100 L. pneumophila strains isolated from public buildings, such as hospitals and water recreation facilities, were used for the study. The drug sensitivity of the following antibiotics was determined: erythromycin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, rifampicin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline. Mean MIC50 and MIC90 values were read using accepted standards.
RESULTS
The highest mean MIC value was obtained for tetracycline 6,130+/-0,353 μg/ml (with a range from 1,500 μg/ml to 16,000 μg/ml. In contrast, the lowest MIC was recorded with rifampicin: 0.020+/-0.037 μg/ml (with a range from 0.016 μg/ml to 0.380 μg/ml).
CONCLUSIONS
The lowest biocidal concentration was found for levofloxacin, the highest for tetracycline. The highest MIC50 and MIC90 values were found for tetracycline and the lowest for rifampicin. The highest biocidal values were found for azithromycin and the lowest for tetracycline.
Topics: Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Legionella pneumophila; Rifampin; Levofloxacin; Azithromycin; Poland; Legionnaires' Disease; Tetracycline; Water; Legionella; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 38153060
DOI: 10.26444/aaem/167934 -
FEMS Microbiology Reviews Jun 2002Legionella pneumophila is naturally found in fresh water were the bacteria parasitize within protozoa. It also survives planctonically in water or biofilms. Upon aerosol... (Review)
Review
Legionella pneumophila is naturally found in fresh water were the bacteria parasitize within protozoa. It also survives planctonically in water or biofilms. Upon aerosol formation via man-made water systems, L. pneumophila can enter the human lung and cause a severe form of pneumonia, called Legionnaires' disease. The pathogenesis of Legionnaires' disease is largely due to the ability of L. pneumophila to invade and grow within macrophages. An important characteristic of the intracellular survival strategy is the replication within the host vacuole that does not fuse with endosomes or lysosomes. In recent times a great number of bacterial virulence factors which affect growth of L. pneumophila in both macrophages and protozoa have been identified. The ongoing Legionella genome project and the use of genetically tractable surrogate hosts are expected to significantly contribute to the understanding of bacterium-host interactions and the regulation of virulence traits during the infection cycle. Since person-to-person transmission of legionellosis has never been observed, the measures for disease prevention have concentrated on eliminating the pathogen from water supplies. In this respect detection and analysis of Legionella in complex environmental consortia become increasingly important. With the availability of new molecular tools this area of applied research has gained new momentum.
Topics: Animals; Disease Reservoirs; Ecology; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Legionella pneumophila; Legionnaires' Disease; Virulence; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 12069880
DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2002.tb00607.x -
Scottish Medical Journal Oct 1994
Topics: Communicable Disease Control; Global Health; History, 20th Century; Humans; Legionella pneumophila; Legionnaires' Disease; Scotland
PubMed: 8778966
DOI: 10.1177/003693309403900502 -
Kansenshogaku Zasshi. the Journal of... Jun 1995In August 1994, an epidemic of acute febrile illness occurred at the Education Center Building of a company in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. All 43 trainees attended in two groups...
In August 1994, an epidemic of acute febrile illness occurred at the Education Center Building of a company in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. All 43 trainees attended in two groups and 2 staff members of the Center fell ill. The 45 patients came to one of our hospitals in two groups, and 35 patients were treated. The patients were 4 males and 31 females, and the average age was 29.0 years. The duration until falling ill was 36 to 90 hours after entering the Center. Symptoms were fever, lumbago arthralgia, headache, dyspnea, general fatigue, etc. Physical examination revealed slightly injected mucosa of the pharynx in a patient who complained of a sore throat. On laboratory examination, leukocytosis with a left shift of the nucleus and elevation of serum CRP levels were found. Erythromycin (600 mg, daily) and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were given by mouth to almost every patient. Two patients were hospitalized. The illness was self-limited, generally lasting from two to five days. Strains of legionellae isolated from the water of the cooling tower located at the top of the Center, were identified as L. pneumophila serogroup 7. Since seroconversion in a patient against the cooling tower strain from 1:16 to 1:256 was determined and the clinical courses agreed with the definition of Pontiac fever by Glick et al, we concluded that the epidemic was an outbreak of Pontiac fever due to L. pneumophila serogroup 7. Pontiac fever is considered to be one of the community-acquired diseases. Thus, we have to note that Pontiac fever may be misdiagnosed as we examine patients who complain of the symptoms noted above.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Humans; Legionella pneumophila; Legionnaires' Disease; Male; Middle Aged; Serotyping; Tokyo
PubMed: 7616010
DOI: 10.11150/kansenshogakuzasshi1970.69.646 -
Infectious Disease Clinics of North... Mar 2017
Topics: Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Influenza, Human; Legionnaires' Disease; Pneumonia
PubMed: 28159180
DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2016.12.001 -
The Journal of Infectious Diseases Sep 1993In June 1992, 13 (38%) of 34 resort guests experienced illness that met a symptom-based case definition of Pontiac fever. Each ill guest reported using an indoor hot tub... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
In June 1992, 13 (38%) of 34 resort guests experienced illness that met a symptom-based case definition of Pontiac fever. Each ill guest reported using an indoor hot tub compared with 6 (29%) of 21 nonill guests (P < .001). Water samples from the indoor hot tub were culture-negative for legionellae using standard techniques, coculture with amebae, and intraperitoneal inoculation of guinea pigs. However, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of the water samples indicated the presence of Legionella pneumophila. Direct fluorescent antibody testing identified the organism as serogroup 6. Seroconversion to L. pneumophila serogroup 6 occurred in 7 (64%) of 11 ill guests and none of 5 nonill guests (P = .03). These results suggest that in certain circumstances, culture of environmental samples should be supplemented with additional tests such as PCR. These results are also consistent with the concept that Pontiac fever can be caused by nonviable legionellae.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial; Colorado; Disease Reservoirs; Guinea Pigs; Humans; Legionella pneumophila; Legionnaires' Disease; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sanitation; Serotyping
PubMed: 8354920
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/168.3.769 -
Euro Surveillance : Bulletin Europeen... Dec 2012A literature review was conducted to highlight the application and potential benefit of using geographic information systems (GIS) during Legionnaires' disease outbreak... (Review)
Review
A literature review was conducted to highlight the application and potential benefit of using geographic information systems (GIS) during Legionnaires' disease outbreak investigations. Relatively few published sources were identified, however, certain types of data were found to be important in facilitating the use of GIS, namely: patient data, locations of potential sources (e.g. cooling towers), demographic data relating to the local population and meteorological data. These data were then analysed to gain a better understanding of the spatial relationships between cases and their environment, the cases' proximity to potential outbreak sources, and the modelled dispersion of contaminated aerosols. The use of GIS in an outbreak is not a replacement for traditional outbreak investigation techniques, but it can be a valuable supplement to a response.
Topics: Disease Outbreaks; Geographic Information Systems; Humans; Legionella pneumophila; Legionnaires' Disease; Spatial Analysis
PubMed: 23231895
DOI: 10.2807/ese.17.49.20331-en -
Infectious Disease Clinics of North... Mar 2010This article describes the clinical differentiation of legionnaires' disease from typical and other atypical pneumonias, with reference to the history, microbiology,... (Review)
Review
This article describes the clinical differentiation of legionnaires' disease from typical and other atypical pneumonias, with reference to the history, microbiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation (including radiologic manifestations, clinical extrapulmonary features, nonspecific laboratory findings, clinical syndromic diagnosis, and differential diagnosis), therapy, complications, and prognosis of the disease.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Legionella pneumophila; Legionnaires' Disease; Prognosis
PubMed: 20171547
DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2009.10.014