Legionella Flashcards
1
Q
What is the cause of Legionnaire’s Disease?
A
Legionella pneumophilia (an intracellular bacterium)
2
Q
Where is it typically found?
A
In water tanks.
So questions will usually hint at air-conditioning systems or foreign holidays.
3
Q
What are some features of legionnaire’s disease?
A
- Flu-like symptoms including fever (present in > 95% of patients)
- Dry cough
- Relative bradycardia
- Confusion
- Lymphopaenia
- Hyponatraemia
- Deranged liver function tests
- Pleural effusion: seen in around 30% of patients
4
Q
How do you diagnose legionnaire’s disease?
A
Urinary antigen
5
Q
What is the treatment for legionnaire’s disease?
A
Erythromycin
6
Q
A
Chest x-ray features of legionella pnuemonia are non-specific but includes a mid-to-lower zone predominance of patchy consolidation. Pleural effusions are seen in around 30%.
