Reinfection with Legionella pneumophila Documented by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

A 50-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia experienced two episodes of community-acquired legionnaires' disease. For determining whether this was the result of relapse or reinfection, Legionella pneumophila strains, cultured from sputum specimens and his home water supply, were charact...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical infectious diseases 1994-12, Vol.19 (6), p.1147-1149
Main Authors: Leverstein-van Hall, Maurine A., Verbon, Annelies, Huisman, Menno V., Kuijper, Ed J., Dankert, Jacob
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial diseases of the respiratory system
Biological and medical sciences
Community-Acquired Infections - diagnosis
Community-Acquired Infections - microbiology
DNA, Bacterial - analysis
Drug Therapy, Combination - therapeutic use
Electrophoresis
Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
Epidemiology
Gels
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Immunocompromised Host
Infectious diseases
Legionella
Legionella pneumophila
Legionella pneumophila - genetics
Legionella pneumophila - isolation & purification
Legionnaires disease
Legionnaires' Disease - diagnosis
Legionnaires' Disease - drug therapy
Legionnaires' Disease - microbiology
Leukemia, Lymphoid - complications
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Potable water
Recurrence
Reinfection
Relapse
Sputum
Sputum - microbiology
Water Microbiology
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Summary:A 50-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia experienced two episodes of community-acquired legionnaires' disease. For determining whether this was the result of relapse or reinfection, Legionella pneumophila strains, cultured from sputum specimens and his home water supply, were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Analysis of the restriction patterns and the clinical data indicated that the second disease period was most likely the result of reinfection. We conclude that after diagnosis of community-acquired legionnaires' disease in an immunocompromised patient, culturing of the domestic water supplies for L. pneumophila should be considered; if such cultures are positive, adequate measures to prevent reexposure have to be taken.
ISSN:1058-4838
1537-6591
DOI:10.1093/clinids/19.6.1147