Legionella

Background

  • Gram negative aerobe
  • L. pneumophila: associated with pneumonia and Pontiac Fever
  • Increased incidence with hot, humid, weather and thundershowers; outbreaks have been associated with cooling towers.

Differential Diagnosis

Causes of Pneumonia

Bacteria

Viral

Fungal

Parasitic

Management

Antibiotic Sensitivities[2]

Category Antibiotic Sensitivity
Penicillins Penicillin G R
Penicillin V R
Anti-Staphylocccal Penicillins Methicillin R
Nafcillin/Oxacillin R
Cloxacillin/Diclox. R
Amino-Penicillins AMP/Amox R
Amox-Clav R
AMP-Sulb R
Anti-Pseudomonal Penicillins Ticarcillin R
Ticar-Clav R
Pip-Tazo R
Piperacillin R
Carbapenems Doripenem R
Ertapenem R
Imipenem R
Meropenem R
Aztreonam R
Fluroquinolones Ciprofloxacin S
Ofloxacin S
Pefloxacin S
Levofloxacin S
Moxifloxacin S
Gemifloxacin S
Gatifloxacin S
1st G Cephalo Cefazolin R
2nd G. Cephalo Cefotetan R
Cefoxitin R
Cefuroxime R
3rd/4th G. Cephalo Cefotaxime R
Cefizoxime R
CefTRIAXone R
Ceftaroline R
CefTAZidime R
Cefepime R
Oral 1st G. Cephalo Cefadroxil R
Cephalexin R
Oral 2nd G. Cephalo Cefaclor/Loracarbef R
Cefproxil R
Cefuroxime axetil R
Oral 3rd G. Cephalo Cefixime R
Ceftibuten R
Cefpodox/Cefdinir/Cefditoren R
Aminoglycosides Gentamicin X1
Tobramycin X1
Amikacin X1
Chloramphenicol X1
Clindamycin X1
Macrolides Erythromycin S
Azithromycin S
Clarithromycin S
Ketolide Telithromycin X2
Tetracyclines Doxycycline X2
Minocycline X2
Glycylcycline Tigecycline X2
Daptomycin R
Glyco/Lipoclycopeptides Vancomycin X1
Teicoplanin X1
Telavancin X1
Fusidic Acid I
Trimethoprim S
TMP-SMX S
Urinary Agents Nitrofurantoin X1
Fosfomycin X1
Other Rifampin X1
Metronidazole R
Quinupristin dalfoppristin X1
Linezolid X1
Colistimethate X1

Key

  • S susceptible/sensitive (usually)
  • I intermediate (variably susceptible/resistant)
  • R resistant (or not effective clinically)
  • S+ synergistic with cell wall antibiotics
  • U sensitive for UTI only (non systemic infection)
  • X1 no data
  • X2 active in vitro, but not used clinically
  • X3 active in vitro, but not clinically effective for Group A strep pharyngitis or infections due to E. faecalis
  • X4 active in vitro, but not clinically effective for strep pneumonia

Table Overview

See Also

References

  1. Burke et Al. Legionnaires Disease Treatment & Management. Aug 18, 2014. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/220163-treatment#d11
  2. Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy 2014