Introduction
Legionnaires’ disease was first recognized in 1976 following its breakout in a hotel in Philadelphia housing delegates who had attended American Legion convention (Lynch, Brightman, & Greenberg, 1994). Its causative agent is a bacterium known as Legionella pneumophila (Lynch, Brightman, & Greenberg, 1994). This disease presents with symptoms similar to those associated with pneumonia. Legionella pneumophila also cause another disease known as Pontiac fever (PF). Pontiac fever and Legionnaires’ disease are collectively referred to as legionellosis. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011), crude national incidence rate of legionellosis in the United States increased by 192% from 2000 to 2009.
Etiology/Pathology
Legionella ...
