Legionnaire's Disease in Compromised Hosts

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2017 Mar;31(1):123-135. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2016.10.014.

Abstract

Legionnaire's disease (LD) is mainly reported in apparently immunocompetent patients. Among them, risk factors include chronic lung disease and smoking. However, LD is also well reported among immunocompromised patients, particularly those treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapy, patients with hematological malignancy, and transplant patients. This article discusses the available data on immunity against Legionella spp, epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of LD in immunocompromised patients.

Keywords: Legionellosis; TLR-5; TNF blockers; TNF-alpha; Tobacco.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • HIV Infections
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Legionnaires' Disease* / complications
  • Legionnaires' Disease* / drug therapy
  • Legionnaires' Disease* / physiopathology
  • Neoplasms
  • Transplant Recipients

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents