Legionella pneumophila Wound Infection

• Published in: JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association Vol. 250; no. 22; pp. 3091 - 3092
• Main Authors: Brabender, Wayne, Hinthorn, Daniel R, Asher, Marc, Lindsey, Norma J, Liu, Chien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL American Medical Association 09-12-1983
• Subjects: Aged; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; General aspects; Hip Prosthesis; Humans; Hydrotherapy - adverse effects; Infectious diseases; Legionella - isolation & purification; Legionella pneumophila; Male; Medical sciences; Osteoarthritis - surgery; Reoperation; Surgical Wound Infection - microbiology; Water Microbiology; Infection; Surgical wound; Postoperative; Prevention; Abscess; Bacteriosis; Legionella pneumophila; Hip
• ISSN: 0098-7484; 1538-3598
• DOI: 10.1001/jama.1983.03340220059036

LEGIONELLA pneumophila pneumonia was first recognized after the outbreak that followed the 1976 convention of the Pennsylvania Department of the American Legion in Philadelphia.1 After the recognition of L pneumophila in causing pneumonia, a respiratory illness without pneumonia termed "Pontiac fever" was shown to be caused by the same agent.2 Later, L pneumophila was demonstrated in tissues other than the lungs of patients who had pulmonary infiltrates, a finding that suggested hematogenous dissemination.3 Vascular access sites in patients undergoing renal dialysis may also be infected.4 From a perirectal abscess in one patient, L pneumophila and anaerobes were isolated.5We describe a patient without pneumonia from whom cultures of an open wound showed growth of L pneumophila and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Apparently the L pneumophila was acquired by the patient from water in a Hubbard tank in which he was receiving daily rehabilitation. Routine disinfection of the