Legionnaires’ disease presenting with exanthem; Case and review of previously published cases

• Published in: IDCases 2022-01, Vol.27, p.e01376, Article e01376
• Main Authors: Carter, Christine J., Corley, Elizabeth M., Canepa, Hannah, Schmalzle, Sarah A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case Report; Immunosuppression; Legionnaire’s Disease; Rash
• ISSN: 2214-2509; 2214-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2022.e01376

Infection with Legionella spp. (legionellosis) causes two distinct clinical presentations: Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever. Legionnaire’s Disease primarily involves the lungs, often with accompanying gastrointestinal symptoms, and can also affect the liver, central nervous system, and kidneys, and cause metabolic derangements. Manifestations in the integumentary system are rare; to date, there have been eleven cases reported in the literature of Legionellosis with associated rash, with varied presentation. The relationship between Legionella pneumophila and the skin has not yet been clearly defined; immunological and/or toxic pathogenesis are possible. We report a case of Legionnaires’ Disease in a young immunocompromised man with a largely benign clinical course consisting of predominantly gastrointestinal symptoms and an extensive maculopapular rash. Chest radiography showed lobar infiltrate in the absence of clinical symptoms of pneumonia. The importance of this case is for clinicians to maintain high clinical suspicion for Legionella when extra-pulmonary symptoms predominate, specifically in immunocompromised hosts who may have atypical presentations and have higher mortality rates when treatment is delayed.