Clinical Predictors for Legionella in Pneumonia Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Fiumefreddo Rico, Zaborsky Roya, Haeuptle Jeannine, Christ-Crain Mirjam, Trampuz Andrej, Steffen Ingrid, Frei Reno, Müller Beat, Schuetz Philipp
Primary Institution: University Hospital Basel
Hypothesis
What clinical and laboratory parameters can accurately predict Legionella community-acquired pneumonia in patients presenting to the emergency department?
Conclusion
Six clinical and laboratory parameters can accurately identify patients with Legionella pneumonia, potentially improving management and outcomes.
Supporting Evidence
- Legionella pneumonia has a high mortality rate, especially without adequate antibiotics.
- The study identified six independent predictors for Legionella pneumonia.
- A diagnostic score based on these predictors showed high accuracy in identifying Legionella cases.
Takeaway
Doctors can use a simple score based on six signs to tell if a patient has a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which helps them choose the right medicine faster.
Methodology
The study retrospectively analyzed clinical and laboratory data from 82 patients with Legionella pneumonia and 368 patients with non-Legionella pneumonia.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of patients due to the retrospective nature of the study and reliance on specific diagnostic tests.
Limitations
The study is retrospective, and the diagnosis of Legionella in non-Legionella patients may have been inaccurate due to reliance on urinary antigen testing.
Participant Demographics
Median age was 72 years, with 62% male; Legionella patients were younger (median age 68 years).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95%CI 2.57–4.33
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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