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gal legionella gallery

L. pneumophila is the bacterium associated with Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever. Respiratory transmission of this organism can lead to infection, which is usually characterized by a gradual onset of flu-like symptoms. Patients may experience fever, chills, and a dry cough as part of the early symptoms. Patients can develop severe pneumonia which is not responsive to penicillins or aminoglycosides. Legionnaires' disease also has the potential to spread into other organ-systems of the body such as the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. Accordingly, patients with advanced infections may experience diarrhea, nausea, disorientation, and confusion. The 1200 or so cases of Legionnaires' disease per year in the United States usually involve middle-aged or immunosuppressed individuals. Pontiac fever is also caused by L. pneumophila but does not produce the severity of the symptoms found in Legionnaires' disease. The flu-like symptoms are still seen in Pontiac fever patients but pneumonia does not develop and infection does not spread beyond the lungs. Most L. pneomophila infections are easily treated with erythromycin.

more infos:

http://www.ashrae.org/ABOUT/leg_papr.htm

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