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Updated: Mar 10, 2026
12:30
Use of Galleria mellonella as a Model Organism to Study Legionella pneumophila Infection
Published on: November 22, 2013
41.6K
Legionnaire's Disease and Immunosuppressive Drugs
Tin Han Htwe1, Nancy M Khardori2
1Sentara Infectious Diseases Specialists, Sentara Medical Group, 850 Kempsville Road, Norfolk, VA 23502, USA.
Infectious Disease Clinics of North America
|December 17, 2016
Summary
Immunosuppressive drugs increase the risk of Legionnaires
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Immunosuppressive agents are known risk factors for Legionnaires' disease.
- Patients on tumor necrosis factor antagonists may not be severely immunocompromised.
- Balancing malignancy treatment with immunosuppressive therapy poses challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the increased risk of Legionnaires' disease in patients using immunosuppressive drugs.
- To emphasize the importance of early clinical suspicion for Legionella infection.
- To underscore the need for prevention strategies against Legionella transmission.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on immunosuppression and Legionnaires' disease.
- Analysis of patient populations including transplant recipients and those with malignancy.
- Clinical assessment of risk factors and diagnostic considerations.
Main Results:
- Immunosuppressive drugs appear to elevate the risk of Legionella infection.
- Transplant recipients on multiple medications face increased susceptibility.
- Distinguishing between disease and therapy effects in malignancy patients is complex.
Conclusions:
- A high index of suspicion for Legionella is crucial in compatible clinical syndromes.
- Controlling Legionella species and preventing transmission are paramount for protecting vulnerable groups.
- Immunosuppression is a significant risk factor for Legionnaires' disease.
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