Legionella

Abstract

The family Legionellaceae is composed of a single genus, Legionella , and comprises 66 validly named species and three subspecies. Legionella pneumophila , Legionella micdadei , Legionella bozemanii , and Legionella longbeachae are the most important species from a clinical standpoint, with L. pneumophila causing more than 90% of Legionnaires' disease (LD) globally, apart from Australia and New Zealand, where L. longbeachae predominates. LD is a type of bacterial pneumonia caused by L. pneumophila and other Legionella spp . Identification of Legionella spp . in a clinical laboratory is optimally performed by observation of visual morphology, agglutination methods, and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial agents regarded as effective for treatment of LD are macrolides, fluoroquinolones, and, rarely, rifampin, all achieving adequate intracellular concentrations.