ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Legionella pneumophila and other members of this genus are important respiratory pathogens but legionellosis often remains a neglected and under reported condition. Hence, this study was done to find out the presence of this organism in patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods: A total of 470 lower respiratory tract samples and 24 water samples from hospital outlets were examined. Culture was done on buffered charcoal yeast extract agar with supplements and identification of the isolates was done by microscopy and biochemical tests. Results: L. pneumophila could be isolated from 12 (2.55%) patients suffering from community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection, unassociated with other aetiological agents of bacterial pneumonia. Of the 24 water samples tested, 8 (33.3%) grew the same organism. Interpretation & conclusion: Our study has shown that Legionella is present in the hospital environment and was the aetiological agent of lower respiratory tract infection in 2.55 per cent of patients. A larger study and reports from other parts of the country may help in determining the true significance of legionellosis in India.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Community-Acquired Infections/microbiology , Female , Hospitals, Teaching , Humans , India/epidemiology , Legionella pneumophila/isolation & purification , Legionnaires' Disease/epidemiology , Legionnaires' Disease/microbiology , Male , Middle Aged , Respiratory Tract Infections/microbiology , Water Microbiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
A 58-year-old, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative, male farmer presented with a right-sided hemorrhagic, exudative, eosinophilic, rapidly reaccumulating pleural effusion. Pleural biopsy revealed secondary deposits from a squamous cell carcinoma. Wet mount film of pleural fluid unexpectedly showed filariform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis. Our observation suggests that strongyloidiasis should be considered as the etiological cause for pleural effusion of obscure etiology. The threshold for suspicion should be high if the pleural effusion is exudative and eosinophil rich.