[Legionnaires' disease in Yugoslavia (an epicritical review of patients)]

A review of patients with Legionnaires' disease hospitalized in our Clinic from the first cases recorded in 1978 up to now has been given. The diagnosis was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescent method in 23 patients with pneumonia, using antigen and method of the Center for Disease Control Biological Products Division, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (Dr Wilkinson). Most of the patients (16) were sporadic cases and twice as less cases were from two epidemics (7). Two patients among sporadic cases developed a very severe form of the disease during the immunosuppressive therapy after kidney transplantation. Clinical, epidemiological and laboratory data of 10 patients hospitalized and treated during the last three years (1986-1988) were analyzed in details. Two thirds of these patients were above 40 years of age and the youngest one was 29 years old. Except the advanced age no other firm disposable factor was found in patients belonging to sporadic cases. In cases from epidemics the source of infection was probably water from water-pipes i.e. hotel devices (bathrooms, douches, drinking water, air-conditioning units, water used in kitchen for cooking etc). All patients recovered after a longer symptomatic and antibiotic treatment. Erythromycin and rifampicin were applied the most frequently. In some patients treatment with chloramphenicol was effective.