Legionnaires' disease

Legionnaires' disease is a severe pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, usually acquired by inhaling contaminated water droplets or aerosols.

Legionella pneumophila: A bacterial species that causes most cases of Legionnaires' disease. It is the principal pathogen behind the disease.
Urinary antigen test: A diagnostic test that detects Legionella antigens in urine. It rapidly identifies many cases, especially those caused by L. pneumophila serogroup 1.
1976 Philadelphia Legionnaires' disease outbreak: A 1976 outbreak of severe pneumonia among attendees of an American Legion convention in Philadelphia. The investigation first brought the disease and its bacterium to wide attention.
Pneumococcal pneumonia: Pneumonia caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is a common bacterial pneumonia with different transmission and diagnostic clues.
Aerosol transmission: The spread of infectious agents through suspended particles or droplets in air. Inhaled aerosols from contaminated water are the usual route of infection.
Legionella culture: Laboratory growth of Legionella from respiratory specimens on specialized media. Culture can confirm infection and support environmental comparisons.
2015 South Bronx Legionnaires' disease outbreak: A large 2015 outbreak in New York City linked to a contaminated cooling tower. It illustrates how a building water system can become a community exposure source.
Mycoplasma pneumonia: A respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae. It can also cause atypical pneumonia but is not acquired from contaminated water aerosols.
Alveolar macrophage: A lung immune cell that engulfs inhaled particles and microbes in the alveoli. Legionella survives and multiplies inside these cells.
Polymerase chain reaction: A laboratory method that amplifies selected DNA sequences for detection. Respiratory PCR can detect Legionella species beyond those covered by the urine test.

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