Outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in immunosuppressed patients at a cancer centre: usefulness of universal urine antigen testing and early levofloxacin therapy.
This report describes an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in severely immunosuppressed patients hospitalised at a cancer centre. Universal urine antigen testing and early levofloxacin therapy appeared to lower case fatality rates in comparison with previous reports concerning this high-risk population. This diagnostic and therapeutic strategy should be considered when facing a nosocomial outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in immunosuppressed hosts.
Gudiol
C
C
Infectious Disease Service, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain.
Verdaguer
R
R
Angeles Domínguez
M
M
Fernández-Sevilla
A
A
Carratalà
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000652:urine; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin