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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffLegionnaires' disease is under-reported and underdiagnosed, primarily because special tests are needed to distinguish Legionnaires' disease from other types of pneumonia. To help identify the presence of legionella bacteria quickly, your doctor may use a test that checks your urine for legionella antigens — foreign substances that trigger an immune system response. You may also have one or more of the following:
- Blood tests
- A chest X-ray, which doesn't confirm Legionnaires' disease but can show the extent of infection in your lungs
- Tests on a sample of your sputum or lung tissue
- A CT scan of your brain or a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) if you have neurological symptoms such as confusion or trouble concentrating
- Pedro-Botet LM, et al. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of legionella infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 5, 2008.
- Patient facts: Learn more about Legionnaires' disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/legionella/patient_facts.htm. Accessed Nov. 21, 2008.
- Tossa P, et al. Pontiac fever: An operational definition for epidemiological studies. BMC Public Health. 2006;6:112.
- Pedro-Botet LM, et al. Treatment and prevention of legionella infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 5, 2008.
- Top 10 things every clinician needs to know about legionellosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/legionella/top10.htm. Accessed Nov. 21, 2008.
- Pedro-Botet LM, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of legionella infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 5, 2008.
- Neil K, et al. Increasing incidence of legionellosis in the United States, 1990-2005: Changing epidemiologic trends. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2008;47:591.
- Nhu Nguyen TM, et al. A community-wide outbreak of Legionnaires disease linked to industrial cooling towers - How far can contaminated aerosols spread? Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2006;193:102.
- Legionnaires' disease associated with potting soil - California, Oregon, and Washington. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4934a1.htm. Accessed Nov. 4, 2008.
- Legionellosis. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs285/en/index.html. Accessed Nov. 24, 2008.
