Severe Pneumonia Caused by Legionella pneumophila: Differential Diagnosis and Therapeutic Considerations

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2017 Mar;31(1):111-121. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2016.10.009.

Abstract

Severe legionella pneumonia poses a diagnostic challenge and requires early intervention. Legionnaire's disease can have several presenting signs, symptoms, and laboratory abnormalities that suggest that Legionella pneumophila is the pathogen, but none of these are sufficient to distinguish L pneumophila pneumonia from other respiratory pathogens. L pneumophila is primarily an intracellular pathogen and needs treatment with antibiotics that efficiently enter the intracellular space.

Keywords: Hospital-acquired pneumonia; Legionella pneumophila; Legionella pneumophila outbreaks; Legionnaire’s disease; Pneumonia complications; Severe community-acquired pneumonia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Community-Acquired Infections* / diagnosis
  • Community-Acquired Infections* / drug therapy
  • Community-Acquired Infections* / microbiology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Legionella pneumophila*
  • Legionnaires' Disease* / diagnosis
  • Legionnaires' Disease* / drug therapy
  • Legionnaires' Disease* / microbiology
  • Pneumonia* / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia* / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia* / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents