Legionnaires' Disease

Course overview

Legionnaires' disease gained notoriety in July 1976, when an outbreak of a serious lung infection occurred among individuals who were attending the 58th annual convention of the American Legion at the Bellevue-Stratford in Philadelphia. Legionella is widely present in the natural environment, and Legionella pneumophila is well recognized as a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia. In 2008, there were 3,181 cases of Legionnaires' disease reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Reports indicate that prevalence of Legionella infections has increased over the past two decades. It is not known if this is due to better diagnostic techniques or changes in the environment.