Summary
A 63-year-old man was admitted to the respiratory intensive care unit for pneumonia. Fifteen years earlier, hairy cell leukemia had been diagnosed and the patient underwent splenectomy. A clinical suspicion of legionellosis, later confirmed by both serology and isolation of the microorganism, prompted initiation of high dose erythromycin intravenously. The patient steadily deteriorated and passed away eight days later. This is the first reported case of hairy cell leukemia in which the diagnosis ofLegionella longbeachae serogroup 1 infection was based on both serology and isolation.
Zusammenfassung
Ein 63jähriger Mann wurde wegen Pneumonie in die Beatmungsstation eingeliefert. Der Patient hatte 15 Jahre vorher eine Splenektomie wegen Haarzelleukämie durchgemacht. Unter der später serologisch und durch Erregerisolation bestätigten Verdachtsdiagnose einer Legionellose wurde sofort mit hohen Dosen Erythromycin i. v. behandelt. Nach fortschreitender Verschlechterung des Zustandes verstarb der Patient acht Tage später. Dies ist der erste publizierte Fall, bei dem eine serologisch und kulturell bestätigte Infektion durchLegionella longbeachae Serogruppe 1 bei einem Patienten mit Haarzelleukämie diagnostiziert wurde.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chowdhury, V. J., Oscier, D. G., Mufti, G. J., et al. Hairy cell leukaemia and Legionnaires' disease. Br. J. Dis. Chest. 79 (1985) 393–395.
Cordonnier, C., Farcet, J. P., Desforges, L., Burn-Buisson, C., Vernant, J. P., Kuentz, M., Dournon, E. Legionnaires' disease and hairy cell leukemia. An unfortuitous association? Arch. Intern. Med. 144 (1984) 2373–2375.
Saravolatz, D. L., Burch, H. K., Fisher, E., et al. The compromised host and Legionnaires' disease. Ann. Intern. Med. 90 (1979) 533–537.
Nielsen, H., Bangsberg, J., Rechnitzer, C., et al. Defective monocyte function in Legionnaires' disease complicating hairy cell leukemia. Acta. Med. Scand. 220. 4 (1986) 381–383.
Berlin, G., Fryden, A., Maller, R., Malm, C., Virkot, O. Legionnaires' disease in leukemic reticuloendotheliosis. Scan. J. Hematol. 25.2 (1980) 171–174.
Mckinney, R. M., Porschen, R. K., Edelstein, P. H., et al. Legionella longbeachae species Nova. Another aetiologic agent of human pneumonia. Ann. Intern. Med. 94 (1981) 739–743.
Lam, S., Smith, J. A., Burton, J. D., Evelyn, R. G., Harper, B., Huckell, V., Jones, E. A. Legionella longbeachae pneumonia diagnosed by bronchial brushing. Can. Med. Assoc. J. 127 (1982) 223–224.
Eitrem, R., Forsgren, A., Nilsson, C. Pneumonia and acute pancreatitis most probably caused by aLegionella longbeachae infection. Scand. J. Infect. Dis. 19 (1987) 381–382.
Boldur, I., Ergaz, M., Sompolinsky, D. The first isolation ofLegionella pneumophila in Israel. Isr. J. Med. Sci. 20 (1984) 74–75.
Vesey, G., Denniss, P. J., Lee, J. V. Further development of simple tests to differentiate the legionellas. J. Appl. Bacteriol. 65 (1988) 339–345.
Boldur, I., Ergaz, M., Mor, G., Kazak, R., Pik, A., Sompolinsky, D. Exposure toLegionella in geriatric institutions. Isr. J. Med. Sci. 22 (1986) 728–732.
Tenholder, F. M. Pulmonary infections in the immunocompromised host. Perspectives on procedures. Chest. 94 (1988) 676–678.
Kazak, R., Cahana, H., Boldur, I. Legionellosis- an update. Abstr. Isr. J. Med. Sci. 24 (1988) 381. Scientific Meetings in Israel.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lang, R., Wiler, Z., Manor, J. et al. Legionella longbeachae pneumonia in a patient splenectomized for hairy-cell leukemia. Infection 18, 31–32 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01644179
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01644179