Lethal Legionella infection in an immunocompromised child: first reported case in the Middle East.
Legionnaires disease continues to be underreported in the Middle East--a reflection of underdiagnosis, both clinically and by laboratory investigations. We draw the attention to this unusual cause of occasionally fatal, yet severe, pneumonia by reporting an immunocompromised infant who succumbed to Legionella pneumophila pneumonia. The urinary test for Legionella antigen was positive, and this was then confirmed by a bronchoalveolar fluid culture. Moreover we have reviewed the incidence, pathophysiology, association with immunodeficiency, diagnostic tools, and treatment in this case report.
Department of Pediatrics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. tayaed@kfshrc.edu.sa
Sami A
SA
Taha
Tareq M
TM
Al-Ayed
Sami A
SA
Al-Haider
Husn H
HH
Frayha
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000652:urine; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007223:Infant; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial