Legionnaires' Disease in Elderly People: The First Sign of an Outbreak in the Community?

Legionella pneumophila is responsible for up to 5% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia and mainly affects people aged over 50 years. The confirmation of legionellosis in two elderly patients living close to each other prompted a search for other cases. A total of eleven subjects with legionnair...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Age and ageing 1992-11, Vol.21 (6), p.451-455
Main Authors: PEIRIS, V., PRASAD, M. K. D., BRADLEY, D., ZAWISTOWICZ, W., SIVAYOHAM, S., NAQVI, S. N. H., HUTCHINSON, D. N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged patients
Aged, 80 and over
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial diseases of the respiratory system
Biological and medical sciences
Case studies
Demographic aspects
Diagnosis, Differential
Disease Outbreaks
Diseases
Elderly
Elderly patients
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Legionella pneumophila
Legionellosis
Legionnaires' disease
Legionnaires' Disease - diagnosis
Legionnaires' Disease - prevention & control
Legionnaires' Disease - transmission
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Older people
Social research
Water Microbiology
Water Supply
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Summary:Legionella pneumophila is responsible for up to 5% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia and mainly affects people aged over 50 years. The confirmation of legionellosis in two elderly patients living close to each other prompted a search for other cases. A total of eleven subjects with legionnaires' disease was recognized. The clinical findings are described and the diagnosis of legionellosis is discussed. Environmental investigations pointed to a cooling tower in the local town centre as the probable source of infection.
ISSN:0002-0729
1468-2834
DOI:10.1093/ageing/21.6.451