Trends in Legionnaires Disease, 1980–1998: Declining Mortality and New Patterns of Diagnosis
Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2002 papers
Abstract
New diagnostic tests and empirical therapy for pneumonia may have important ramifications for the identification, treatment, and control of legionnaires disease (LD). To determine trends in the epidemiology of LD, we analyzed data for 1980-1998 from the passive surveillance system of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During this time period, there were 6757 confirmed cases of LD (median annual number, 360 cases/year). Diagnosis by culture and by direct fluorescent antibody and serologic testing decreased significantly; diagnosis by urine antigen testing increased from 0% to 69%. The frequency of isolates other than Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (LP1) decreased from 38% to 4% (P=.003). The case-fatality rate decreased significantly, from 34% to 12% (P<.001) for all cases, from 46% to 14% (P<.0001) for nosocomial cases, and from 26% to 10% (P=.05) for community-acquired cases. LD-related mortality has decreased dramatically. The decrease in culture-based diagnosis limits the recognition of non-LP1 disease and impairs outbreak investigation, because fewer Legionella isolates are provided for further examination.
Related Papers
- → Evaluation of the Duopath Legionella Lateral Flow Assay for Identification of Legionella pneumophila and Legionella Species Culture Isolates(2006)20 cited
- → Legionella anisa , a Possible Indicator of Water Contamination by Legionella pneumophila(2006)44 cited
- → Presence and Persistence of Viable, Clinically Relevant Legionella pneumophila Bacteria in Garden Soil in the Netherlands(2016)25 cited
- → Rapid Detection and Differentiation of Legionella pneumophila and Non-Legionella pneumophila Species by Using Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Combined With EuNPs-Based Lateral Flow Immunochromatography(2022)7 cited
- → Efficacy of Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water (SAEW) Comparing to Chlorine on Inactivation of Legionella Pneumophila Isolated from Drinking Water Tanks(2023)