Legionnaire's Disease

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University of Oklahoma Study Abroad Microbiology in Arezzo, Italy[1]

Scanning electron microscope image of Legionella pneumophila. From: MicrobLog [2]

Etiology/Bacteriology

Taxonomy

| Domain = Bacteria
| Phylum = Proteobacteria
| Class = Gammaproteobacteria
| Order = Legionellales
| Family = Legionellaceae
| Genus = Legionella
| Species = Legionella pneumophila
| NCBI: Taxonomy Genome: Genome |

Clinical Features

Symptoms

Many of the symptoms of Legionnaires Disease are characteristic of pneumonia. Symptoms typically begin with a shortness of breath followed by a cough. A high fever, headaches, muscle aches, and extreme fatigue are other symptoms that occur with pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila. Signs of symptoms can appear 2-14 days after being exposed to the pathogen. Many people that come into contact with Legionella pneumophila do not show symptoms. Legionnaires disease can be found in anyone; however, it is usually found in patients over 50, heavy smokers, and immunocompromised patients.

References

1. Sheff, Barbara. Microbe of the month: Legionella pneumophila. Nursing2004. 34:74. http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.lib.ou.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=4b6f670a-bf77-4c0a-a19a-768789fa1a0f%40sessionmgr4002&vid=2&hid=4207

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Legionella (Legionnaires' Disease and Pontiac Fever). Available at http://www.cdc.gov/legionella/about/index.html

Created by MaKenzi Burke, student of Tyrrell Conway at the University of Oklahoma.