Legionnaire's disease

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Legionnaires' disease organism, legionella

Legionella pneumonia; Pontiac fever

The goal of treatment is to eliminate the infection with antibiotics. Treatment is started as soon as Legionnaire's disease is suspected, without waiting for confirmation by culture results.

The antibiotics commonly used are quinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, or gatifloxacin) or macrolides (azithromycin, clarithromycin, or erythromycin).

Supportive treatment includes hospitalization for fluid and electrolyte replacement and oxygen administration by mask or by mechanical ventilation, if the respiratory system becomes severely compromised by the infection.

The overall death rate for those with pneumonia is about 15%, and the death rate increases in those with underlying diseases. The mortality for patients who develop Legionnaire's disease while hospitalized is close to 50%, especially when antibiotics are started late.

Some complications include respiratory failure requiring use of a respirator.

Call your health care provider if breathing difficulties develop.

Review Date: 06/09/2005
Reviewed By: Camille Kotton, M.D., Infectious Diseases Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.