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- Title
Nosocomial Legionella pneumonia in a population of head and neck cancer patients.
- Authors
Johnson, Jonas T.; Yu, Victor L.; Wagner, Robin L.; Best, Michele G.; Johnson, J T; Yu, V L; Wagner, R L; Best, M G
- Abstract
A prospective study of nosocomial pneumonia following major head and neck surgery was conducted when it was recognized that Legionella contaminated the hospital water supply. Legionella pneumonia had not previously been diagnosed in our hospital. Every head and neck patient with nosocomial pneumonia had specialized tests performed. During the 18-month study period, 29% of patients with nosocomial pneumonia (7 of 27) had evidence of legionellosis. The sero-group of the infecting Legionella was the same as the Legionella in the water supply. Legionella was seen exclusively in patients with clinically evident aspiration. Legionella pneumonia was not demonstrated in patients undergoing laryngectomy. We conclude that specialized testing must be employed to avoid delay in diagnosis and failure to administer specific antibiotic therapy. Legionellosis may be underdiagnosed in hospitalized patients.
- Subjects
PNEUMONIA diagnosis; DIAGNOSIS of bacterial diseases; SPUTUM microbiology; HEAD tumors; PNEUMONIA; MICROBIAL ecology; CROSS infection; BACTERIAL antibodies; LEGIONELLA; FLUORESCENT antibody technique; ENZYME-linked immunosorbent assay; BACTERIAL diseases; NECK tumors; LONGITUDINAL method; DISEASE complications
- Publication
Laryngoscope, 1985, Vol 95, Issue 12, p1468
- ISSN
0023-852X
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1288/00005537-198512000-00006