title: [Legionnaires' disease: 21 cases observed over 2.5 years in a Parisian respiratory intensive care unit].
abstract: The incidence of Legionnaire's disease is probably underestimated in France. Its clinical presentation is very suggestive, especially after the failure of a 48 hour therapeutic trial of beta-lactams, when a pneumococcal infection is initially suspected. This one sign is sufficient to orient the diagnostic survey and constitutes an indication for a therapeutic trial of macrolides for at least 72 hours. In fact, the delay in the diagnosis appears to be the determinant factor in the fatal outcome of the disease.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007769:Lactams; D007875:Legionella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010297:Paris; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007769:Lactams; D004917:Erythromycin
vernacular_title: La maladie des légionnaires: 21 cas observés en 2 ans et demi dans une unité parisienne de soins intensifs respiratoires.