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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffLegionnaires' disease is similar to 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
References
- Pedro-Botet ML, et al. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of Legionella infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 13, 2010.
- Patient facts: Learn more about Legionnaires' disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/legionella/patient_facts.htm. Accessed Oct. 13, 2010.
- Edelstein PH, et al. Legionella. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practices of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00232-0. Oct. 14, 2010.
- Pedro-Botet ML, et al. Treatment and prevention of legionella infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 13, 2010.
- Top 10 things every clinician needs to know about legionellosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/legionella/top10.htm. Accessed Oct. 13, 2010.
- Pedro-Botet ML, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of legionella infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 13, 2010.
- 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.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, et al. Legionnaires' disease associated with potting soil — California, Oregon, and Washington, May-June 2000. MMWR. 2000;49:777. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4934a1.htm. Accessed Oct. 19, 2010.
- Legionellosis. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs285/en/index.html. Accessed Oct. 19, 2010.
- Sabria M, et al. Legionella infection. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2871241. Accessed Oct. 13, 2010.
- Cunha BA. Legionnaires' disease: Clinical differentiation from typical and other atypical pneumonias. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 2010;24:73.
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