Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Rome, Italy.

Between August and October 2003, 15 cases of Legionnaires' disease were detected in the 9th district of Rome. To identify possible sources of Legionella exposure, a matched case-control study was conducted and environmental samples were collected. Hospital discharge records were also retrospectively analysed for the period July-November 2003, and results were compared with the same period during the previous 3 years. The case-control study revealed a significantly increased risk of disease among those frequenting a specific department store in the district (OR 9.8, 95% CI 2.1-46.0), and Legionella pneumophila was isolated from the store's cooling tower. Genotypic and phenotypic analysis of human and environmental isolates demonstrated that the cluster was caused by a single strain of L. pneumophila serogroup 1, and that the cooling tower of the store was the source of infection. The increased number of hospital admissions for microbiologically undiagnosed pneumonia during the study period may indicate that some legionellosis cases were not identified.

Pneumocystis colitis in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

We report a case of colonic pneumocystosis in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive homosexual male who presented with fever and diarrhea. Stool cultures for bacterial pathogens and examinations for ova and parasites were negative. The diagnosis was made by colonoscopic biopsy which revealed Pneumocystis carinii organisms in the lamina propria of the cecum, descending colon, and sigmoid colon. The patient subsequently developed pulmonary and ocular abnormalities consistent with P. carinii involvement of these organs. The diarrhea and other manifestations resolved with antipneumocystis therapy. Many sites of extrapulmonary pneumocystosis have been reported, but we believe this is the first report of colonic P. carinii found in the evaluation of persistent diarrhea in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.