Increasing Incidence of Legionellosis in the United States, 1990–2005: Changing Epidemiologic Trends

Abstract

Reported legionellosis cases have increased substantially in recent years, particularly in the eastern United States and among middle-aged adults. Legionella infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient with pneumonia. Public health professionals should focus increased attention on detection and prevention of this important and increasing public health problem.

Changing epidemiological trends of legionellosis in New Zealand, 1979–2009

“…5 %) of the total number of reported cases had a history of overseas travel during the incubation period. Table 1b confirms that as with other jurisdictions smoking and the existence of a pre-existing immunosuppressive or debilitating condition are predisposing risk factors for legionellosis [9]. Figure 3 shows the number of Legionella strains identified for the clinical laboratory-proven legionellosis cases from 1979 to 2009.…”

“…This is different to a country like the USA where Lpsg1 makes up 90 % of Legionella case isolates [9].…”

“…Predisposing risk factors for legionellosis include smoking, advanced age (o65 years), male sex and the existence of pre-existing chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes, renal failure or any illness or treatment associated with immunosuppressive conditions. Cases have been reported in all age groups in otherwise healthy individuals including infants [9]. Contact with a contaminated environmental source is a necessary precursor for infection along with predisposing host factors that are not fully understood.…”

Legionella Hospital Laboratory Testing Practices in Georgia

“…3 Increasing in incidence in the United States, Legionnaires' disease is one of the leading causes of community-acquired pneumonia and requires a higher public health priority. [4][5][6][7][8] An earlier study by Brzozowski et al 9 on diagnostic testing practices for infectious diseases supports the findings of Garrison et al 1 Brzozowski and colleagues (R.L.B. is a coauthor) conducted a survey of hospital microbiology laboratories in Georgia to assess diagnostic testing practices in 2006 for selected infectious diseases, including Legionella.…”

Knowledge to Predict Pathogens: Legionella pneumophila Lifecycle Critical Review Part I Uptake into Host Cells

“…Legionellosis is a serious threat to human health and has been increasing in incidence throughout the US [14,15]. L. pneumophila thrive in warm, freshwater habitats, particularly where water is stagnant [140,171].…”