Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/53490
Title: Rainfall is a risk factor for sporadic cases of Legionella pneumophila Pneumonia
Author: Garcia Vidal, Carolina
Labori, Maria
Viasus, Diego
Simonetti, Antonella Francesca
Garcia Somoza, Dolors
Dorca i Sargatal, Jordi
Gudiol i Munté, Francesc
Carratalà, Jordi
Keywords: Pneumònia
Legionel·la
Pneumonia
Legionella
Issue Date: 16-Apr-2013
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Abstract: It is not known whether rainfall increases the risk of sporadic cases of Legionella pneumonia. We sought to test this hypothesis in a prospective observational cohort study of non-immunosuppressed adults hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia (1995-2011). Cases with Legionella pneumonia were compared with those with non-Legionella pneumonia. Using daily rainfall data obtained from the regional meteorological service we examined patterns of rainfall over the days prior to admission in each study group. Of 4168 patients, 231 (5.5%) had Legionella pneumonia. The diagnosis was based on one or more of the following: sputum (41 cases), antigenuria (206) and serology (98). Daily rainfall average was 0.556 liters/m2 in the Legionella pneumonia group vs. 0.328 liters/m2 for non-Legionella pneumonia cases (p = 0.04). A ROC curve was plotted to compare the incidence of Legionella pneumonia and the weighted median rainfall. The cut-off point was 0.42 (AUC 0.54). Patients who were admitted to hospital with a prior weighted median rainfall higher than 0.42 were more likely to have Legionella pneumonia (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.02-1.78; p = .03). Spearman Rho correlations revealed a relationship between Legionella pneumonia and rainfall average during each two-week reporting period (0.14; p = 0.003). No relationship was found between rainfall average and non-Legionella pneumonia cases (−0.06; p = 0.24). As a conclusion, rainfall is a significant risk factor for sporadic Legionella pneumonia. Physicians should carefully consider Legionella pneumonia when selecting diagnostic tests and antimicrobial therapy for patients presenting with CAP after periods of rainfall.
Note: Reproducció del document publicat a: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0061036
It is part of: PLoS One, 2013, vol. 8, num. 4, p. 1-5
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/53490
Related resource: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0061036
ISSN: 1932-6203
Appears in Collections:Articles publicats en revistes (Ciències Clíniques)
Articles publicats en revistes (Institut d'lnvestigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL))

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