Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Tractable Mammalian Cell Infections with Protozoan-primed Bacteria
Published on: April 2, 2013
Nosocomial Legionnaires' disease caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 5: laboratory and epidemiologic
F Y Chang1, S L Jacobs, S M Colodny
1Special Pathogen Laboratory, YA Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA.
Abstract:
Environmental monitoring and clinical surveillance for Legionella species were done for 12 months as recommended by the Allegheny County Health Department (Pittsburgh). The water system of a hospital was found to be colonized with Legionella pneumophila serogroup 5. Three patients with nosocomial L. pneumophila serogroup 5 disease were subsequently diagnosed after laboratory tests for legionellae were made available for all patients with nosocomial pneumonia. All serogroup 5 isolates from the hospital water matched the 3 patient isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Furthermore, isolates found in the water supply dating back 10 years showed the same PFGE pattern. In contrast, 12 L. pneumophila serogroup 5 isolates from eight other institutions had different PFGE patterns. Routine environmental cultures were important in stimulating the application of Legionella laboratory testing, which subsequently identified unsuspected patients with nosocomial legionnaires' disease.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
Atypical Pneumonia
Pneumonia I: Introduction

