Frequency Distribution of Legionella Pneumophila among Patients with Fever and Neutropenia in Seyedoshohada Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, during 2014-2015

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Resident, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Legionella pneumophila is considered as one of the most important etiologies of respiratory infection in immunocompromised patients, which causes high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of Legionella pneumophila in febrile neutropenic patients.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 36 patients with neutropenia admitted to Seyedoshohada hospital, Isfahan, Iran, during 2014-2015. All patients underwent throat sampling with a sterile swab. All samples were analyzed via quantitative real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) covering Legionella pneumophila. The prevalence of Legionella pneumophila in febrile neutropenic patients was then assessed.Findings: Mean age of the patients (including 22 men and 14 women) was 54.8 ± 7.6 years. Most of the patients had acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (33.3%) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (19.4%). From 36 examined throat samples obtained from the patients with confirmed neutropenia, no positive result of Legionella pneumophila was detected via polymerase chain reaction.Conclusion: Our study does not support the hypothesis that Legionella pneumophila plays an important role in the development of neutropenic fever. Thus, more studies and using additional diagnostic methods to detect Legionella pneumophila in atypical pneumonia are recommended.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 35, Issue 450 - Serial Number 450
September and October 2017
Pages 1370-1375

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History

  • Receive Date: 04 June 2017
  • Revise Date: 01 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

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