Legionnaires' disease: seek and ye shall find.
Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 11326811.
- No licence information is recorded for this record.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
Legionella pneumophila is among the top three or four microbial causes of community-acquired pneumonia, yet is often misdiagnosed and inadequately treated. New laboratory tests should simplify the diagnosis. Also, contrary to common perception, the disease is usually spread via aspiration of water from contaminated hot water distribution systems, not from air conditioning systems. The treatment of choice has shifted from erythromycin to the newer macrolides and quinolones. Routine culturing of the hospital water supply is a requisite first step in preventing hospital-acquired Legionnaires' disease.