title: Rapid diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease by bronchoalveolar lavage.
abstract: Legionella pneumophila has, in recent years, emerged as a common pulmonary pathogen in the normal and immuno-compromised patient (ICP). Making a specific etiologic diagnosis of pneumonia in the latter group is a common clinical dilemma often complicated by poor specimen availability and risks of invasive procedures. Improved staining and isolation techniques for L pneumophila would suggest that early diagnosis could be possible if adequate specimens were available. This report summarizes our experience with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) with which we have diagnosed L pneumophila in eight immunocompromised patients, well in advance of more traditional methods. On the basis of this experience, we would advocate early BAL in the ICP as a rapid, safe, moderately sensitive and specific diagnostic test to aid in the identification of L pneumophila.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001980:Bronchi / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007875:Legionella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000382:microbiology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents