Fact sheets

Legionella fact sheet (PDF 222KB)

Public Health action

• OP 2007/05 Testing of hospital mains water supply for legionella (8/12/02)

• Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic. Therapeutic Guidelines Limited: Melbourne

Additional sources of information

• Control of Communicable Diseases Manual

• WA epidemiology

Case definition

Reporting

Both confirmed cases and probable cases should be notified.

Confirmed case

A confirmed case requires laboratory definitive evidence AND clinical evidence.

Laboratory definitive evidence

1. Isolation of Legionella
OR

2. Presence of Legionella urinary antigen
OR

3. Seroconversion or a significant increase in antibody level or a fourfold or greater rise in titre to Legionella

Clinical evidence

1. Fever
OR

2. Cough
OR

3. Pneumonia

Probable case

A probable case requires laboratory suggestive evidence AND clinical evidence.

Laboratory suggestive evidence

1. Single high antibody titre to Legionella
OR

2. Detection of Legionella by nucleic acid testing
OR

3. Detection of Legionella by direct fluorescence assay

Clinical evidence

As with confirmed case.