Overview of Legionella pneumonia in adults

Legionella pneumonia (Legionnaires disease) is a notifiable condition. Report cases of Legionella pneumonia to the local public health authority – see the Legionellosis – CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units and see also Contact details for health departments and public health units.

Directed therapy for Legionella pneumonia is stratified according to disease severity. Assessment of pneumonia severity is included for adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Antibiotic regimens are included in this topic for adults with:

• low- to moderate-severity Legionella pneumonia
• high-severity Legionella pneumonia.

For information on epidemiology, clinical symptoms and risk factors for Legionella community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), see Aetiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults. For information on diagnostic tests for Legionella, including the Legionella urinary antigen, see Investigations for CAP in adults.