Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever, usually after people inhale aerosols from contaminated water.

Legionnaires’ disease: A severe pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, typically acquired by inhaling contaminated water aerosols. This is the severe form of illness caused by L. pneumophila.
Legionella urinary antigen test: A diagnostic test that detects Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen in urine. It provides rapid evidence of a common cause of Legionnaires’ disease.
Gram-negative bacteria: Bacteria whose cell envelopes have a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane, producing a characteristic Gram-stain result. L. pneumophila belongs to this broad bacterial group.
1976 Philadelphia Legionnaires’ disease outbreak: An outbreak of severe pneumonia among attendees of an American Legion convention in Philadelphia in 1976. The outbreak led to the recognition of Legionnaires’ disease and the bacterium that causes it.
Legionella ecology: The study of Legionella’s relationships with aquatic habitats, other microorganisms, and environmental conditions. Its environmental life cycle helps explain persistence in natural and engineered water.
Pontiac fever: A self-limited, flu-like illness caused by exposure to Legionella bacteria, without pneumonia. The same bacterium can cause this milder, non-pneumonic illness.
Legionella culture: Laboratory growth of Legionella from a clinical or environmental specimen on specialized media. Culture can identify infections missed by the urinary antigen test and support source investigations.
Legionella: A genus of bacteria commonly found in freshwater and engineered water systems; some species cause human disease. L. pneumophila is the best-known disease-causing member of this genus.
2001 Murcia Legionnaires’ disease outbreak: A large Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Murcia, Spain, linked to aerosols from a cooling tower. This outbreak demonstrated how a tower could expose people across an urban area.
Legionella pneumophila serogroups: Groups of L. pneumophila distinguished by differences in surface antigens. Serogroup diversity affects which infections routine diagnostic tests readily detect.

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