Pathogens
Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila

Precautions

Standard Precautions

Susceptibilities

General Information

Aerobic small gram negative bacillus

Reservoir is water- aerosolization by cooling towers, spas, shower heads, etc.

Occurs in outbreaks

Person-to-person transmission not documented.

Pneumonia (Legionnaires disease)

Pontiac fever is a self-limited febrile illness

Extrapulmonary infections rare, but include endocarditis

Notifiable disease - notify Public Health ASAP

Urine legionella antigen test available at CLS

Risk factors include outbreak setting, older male, smoker, with cardiopulmonary disease, renal disease, or immunosuppression