[The hospital faced with a prolonged Legionella outbreak].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To describe the health resources used in patients hospitalized with Legionella pneumonia during an outbreak of Legionnaire's disease in Alcoy (Spain), and to compare them with those used in other forms of pneumonia.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Using a clinical protocol, 177 Legionella pneumonia patients were compared with 180 patients hospitalized for other types of pneumonia. Data on therapy and the resources used were collected. The most common antibiotic treatment in both groups was clarithromycin, but intensive care and mechanical ventilation requirements were greater in Legionella pneumonia. Home-based hospital care was successfully used in 15.6% of patients with Legionella pneumonia and in 11.3% of those with other types of pneumonia. Home oxygen therapy after discharge was less frequent in the Legionella pneumonia group (7.8%) than in the group with non-Legionella pneumonia (16.7%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Notable results were the greater requirement for mechanical ventilation in Legionella pneumonia and the good results obtained by home-based hospital care within current health care management.

• Authors: Juan Antonio Fernández, Tomás Marco, Domingo Orozco, Jaime Merino
• Journal: Gaceta sanitaria (Gac Sanit) 2004 Jul-Aug Vol. 18 Issue 4 Pg. 335-7 ISSN: 0213-9111 [Print] Spain
• Vernacular Title: El hospital ante un brote prolongado de legionelosis.
• PMID: 15324645 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Aged
• Disease Outbreaks
• Female
• Home Care Services
• Hospitalization
• Humans
• Legionnaires' Disease (epidemiology, therapy)
• Male
• Pneumonia, Bacterial (epidemiology, therapy)
• Prospective Studies
• Spain (epidemiology)