Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Legionnaire's disease is an acute
Alternative Names
Legionella pneumonia; Pontiac fever
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
The bacteria that cause Legionnaire's disease have been found in water delivery systems. They can survive in the warm, moist, air conditioning systems of large buildings, including hospitals.
Most cases are caused by Legionella pneumophila. The rest of the cases are caused by other Legionella species.
Spread of the bacteria from person to person has not been proven.
Most infections occur in middle-aged or older people, although they have been reported in children. Typically, the disease is less severe in children.
Risk factors include:
Alcoholism - Cigarette smoking
- Diseases such as
kidney failure ordiabetes - Diseases that weaken the immune system, including cancer
- Long-term (chronic) lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (
COPD ) - Long-term use of a breathing machine (ventilator)
- Medicines that suppress the immune system, including chemotherapy and steroid medications
- Older age
Review Date: 02/19/2011
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of
Medicine; and Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, Assistant Professor of
Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by
David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
