Legionnaires' disease
| Legionnaires' disease | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Legionellosis, legion fever |
| Chest X-ray of a severe case of legionellosis upon admission to the emergency department | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease, pulmonology |
| Symptoms | Cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle pains, headaches |
| Usual onset | 2–10 days after exposure |
| Causes | Bacteria of the Legionella type (spread by contaminated mist) |
| Risk factors | Older age, history of smoking, chronic lung disease, poor immune function |
| Diagnostic method | Urinary antigen test, sputum culture |
| Prevention | Good maintenance of water systems |
| Treatment | Antibiotics |
| Prognosis | 10% risk of death |
| Frequency | ~13,000 severe cases a year (US) |
Legionnaires' disease is a form of atypical pneumonia caused by any species of Legionella bacteria, quite often Legionella pneumophila. Signs and symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, high fever, muscle pains, and headaches. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. This often begins 2–10 days after exposure.
A legionellosis is any disease caused by Legionella, including Legionnaires' disease (a pneumonia) and Pontiac fever (a related upper respiratory tract infection), but Legionnaires' disease is the most common, so mentions of legionellosis often refer to Legionnaires' disease.
The bacterium is found naturally in fresh water. It can contaminate hot water tanks, hot tubs, and cooling towers of large air conditioners. It is usually spread by breathing in mist that contains the bacteria. It can also occur when contaminated water is aspirated. It typically does not spread directly between people, and most people who are exposed do not become infected. Risk factors for infection include older age, a history of smoking, chronic lung disease, and poor immune function. Those with severe pneumonia and those with pneumonia and a recent travel history should be tested for the disease. Diagnosis is by a urinary antigen test and sputum culture.
No vaccine is available. Prevention depends on good maintenance of water systems. Treatment of Legionnaires' disease is commonly conducted with antibiotics. Recommended agents include fluoroquinolones, azithromycin, or doxycycline. Hospitalization is often required. The fatality rate is around 10% for healthy persons and 25% for those with underlying conditions.
The number of cases that occur globally is not known. Legionnaires' disease is the cause of an estimated 2–9% of pneumonia cases that are acquired outside of a hospital. An estimated 8,000 to 18,000 cases a year in the United States require hospitalization. Outbreaks of disease account for a minority of cases. While it can occur any time of the year, it is more common in the summer and autumn. The disease is named after the outbreak where it was first identified, at a 1976 American Legion convention in Philadelphia.