Detection of Legionella Pneumophila as an etiologic agent of community-acquired severe pneumonia

Detección de Legionella Pneumophila como agente etiológico de neumonía grave adquirida en la comunidad

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José Ignacio Hernández
Virginia Abello Polo
Adriana Medina Orjuela
Javier Orlando Pacheco Gaona
Dora Inés Ríos

Abstract

The microorganisms isolated most frequently in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila and Gram-negative organisms. In Colombia there have been no reports of Legionella pneumonia since a special culture medium is required for its isolation. In order to determine the role of this microorganism as an etiological agent of severe pneumonia acquired in the community, a descriptive study was conducted on a population of 187 patients, who constitute the totality of cases of CAP that entered the Hospital de San José, in the city of Bogotá, Colombia, between October 1999 and June 2001 and of which 20 represent cases of severe CAP. In this study, Legionella pneumophila was not isolated as an etiological agent of severe CAP, therefore the therapeutic indication of macrolides in our environment, suspecting this pathology, should be re-evaluated.

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