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Legionnaires' disease in elderly people: the first sign of an outbreak in the community?
V Peiris1, M K Prasad, D Bradley
1Public Health Laboratory, Royal Preston Hospital.
Age and Ageing
|November 1, 1992
Abstract:
Legionella pneumophila is responsible for up to 5% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia and mainly affects people aged over 50 years. The confirmation of legionellosis in two elderly patients living close to each other prompted a search for other cases. A total of eleven subjects with legionnaires' disease was recognized. The clinical findings are described and the diagnosis of legionellosis is discussed. Environmental investigations pointed to a cooling tower in the local town centre as the probable source of infection.