title: Legionnaires' disease in immunocompromised patients: a case report of Legionella longbeachae pneumonia and review of the literature.
abstract: In addition to Legionella pneumophila, about 20 Legionella species have been documented as human pathogens. The majority of infections by non-pneumophila Legionella species occur in immunocompromised and splenectomized patients. Here, we report a case of 'classical' lobar pneumonia caused by Legionella longbeachae in a splenectomized patient receiving corticosteroids for chronic immune thrombocytopenia. Tests for Legionella antigen were negative. L. longbeachae was immediately detected in bronchoalveolar fluid by PCR and subsequently confirmed by culture on legionella-selective media. The features of Legionnaires' disease in immunocompromised patients with special emphasis on significance and detection of non-pneumophila species are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kümpers
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiede
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kirschner
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Girke
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganser
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Dietrich
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peest
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D044128:Legionella longbeachae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007876:Legionellosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media