Rapid diagnosis of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. 1987

J H Winter, and A C McCartney, and R J Fallon, and A B Telfer, and J K Drury, and I J Reece, and M C Timbury
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

In the last three months of 1985 there was an outbreak of legionnaires' disease at Glasgow Royal Infirmary affecting 15 patients and one surgeon; five patients died. Legionnaires' disease was first suspected when a second case of severe nosocomial pneumonia occurred in a high dependency unit. The application of the direct fluorescent antibody test to specimens obtained at bronchoscopy was responsible for the rapid diagnosis of legionnaires' disease, which led to the prescription of appropriate antibiotic treatment and the shutting down of the contaminated cooling tower, thereby containing the outbreak. It also led to a search for further cases. It is suggested that these diagnostic techniques should be included in the investigation of affected patients in an outbreak of pneumonia.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007877 Legionnaires' Disease An acute, sometimes fatal, pneumonia-like bacterial infection characterized by high fever, malaise, muscle aches, respiratory disorders and headache. It is named for an outbreak at the 1976 Philadelphia convention of the American Legion. Legionella pneumophila Infections,Infections, Legionella pneumophila,Legionnaire Disease,Pontiac Fever,Disease, Legionnaire,Disease, Legionnaires',Fever, Pontiac,Infection, Legionella pneumophila,Legionella pneumophila Infection,Legionnaire's Disease,Legionnaires Disease
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D003428 Cross Infection Any infection which a patient contracts in a health-care institution. Hospital Infections,Nosocomial Infections,Health Care Associated Infection,Health Care Associated Infections,Healthcare Associated Infections,Infection, Cross,Infections, Hospital,Infections, Nosocomial,Cross Infections,Healthcare Associated Infection,Hospital Infection,Infection, Healthcare Associated,Infection, Hospital,Infection, Nosocomial,Infections, Cross,Infections, Healthcare Associated,Nosocomial Infection
D004196 Disease Outbreaks Sudden increase in the incidence of a disease. The concept includes EPIDEMICS and PANDEMICS. Outbreaks,Infectious Disease Outbreaks,Disease Outbreak,Disease Outbreak, Infectious,Disease Outbreaks, Infectious,Infectious Disease Outbreak,Outbreak, Disease,Outbreak, Infectious Disease,Outbreaks, Disease,Outbreaks, Infectious Disease
D005260 Female Females
D005455 Fluorescent Antibody Technique Test for tissue antigen using either a direct method, by conjugation of antibody with fluorescent dye (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, DIRECT) or an indirect method, by formation of antigen-antibody complex which is then labeled with fluorescein-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin antibody (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, INDIRECT). The tissue is then examined by fluorescence microscopy. Antinuclear Antibody Test, Fluorescent,Coon's Technique,Fluorescent Antinuclear Antibody Test,Fluorescent Protein Tracing,Immunofluorescence Technique,Coon's Technic,Fluorescent Antibody Technic,Immunofluorescence,Immunofluorescence Technic,Antibody Technic, Fluorescent,Antibody Technics, Fluorescent,Antibody Technique, Fluorescent,Antibody Techniques, Fluorescent,Coon Technic,Coon Technique,Coons Technic,Coons Technique,Fluorescent Antibody Technics,Fluorescent Antibody Techniques,Fluorescent Protein Tracings,Immunofluorescence Technics,Immunofluorescence Techniques,Protein Tracing, Fluorescent,Protein Tracings, Fluorescent,Technic, Coon's,Technic, Fluorescent Antibody,Technic, Immunofluorescence,Technics, Fluorescent Antibody,Technics, Immunofluorescence,Technique, Coon's,Technique, Fluorescent Antibody,Technique, Immunofluorescence,Techniques, Fluorescent Antibody,Techniques, Immunofluorescence,Tracing, Fluorescent Protein,Tracings, Fluorescent Protein
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D012606 Scotland The most northerly of the four countries of the United Kingdom, occupying about one-third of the island of Great Britain. The capital is Edinburgh.

Related Publications

J H Winter, and A C McCartney, and R J Fallon, and A B Telfer, and J K Drury, and I J Reece, and M C Timbury
August 1980, Hospital engineering,
J H Winter, and A C McCartney, and R J Fallon, and A B Telfer, and J K Drury, and I J Reece, and M C Timbury
December 1832, The London medical and physical journal,
J H Winter, and A C McCartney, and R J Fallon, and A B Telfer, and J K Drury, and I J Reece, and M C Timbury
October 1830, The London medical and physical journal,
J H Winter, and A C McCartney, and R J Fallon, and A B Telfer, and J K Drury, and I J Reece, and M C Timbury
March 1831, The London medical and physical journal,
J H Winter, and A C McCartney, and R J Fallon, and A B Telfer, and J K Drury, and I J Reece, and M C Timbury
March 1831, The London medical and physical journal,
J H Winter, and A C McCartney, and R J Fallon, and A B Telfer, and J K Drury, and I J Reece, and M C Timbury
October 1832, The London medical and physical journal,
J H Winter, and A C McCartney, and R J Fallon, and A B Telfer, and J K Drury, and I J Reece, and M C Timbury
April 1831, The London medical and physical journal,
J H Winter, and A C McCartney, and R J Fallon, and A B Telfer, and J K Drury, and I J Reece, and M C Timbury
September 1831, The London medical and physical journal,
J H Winter, and A C McCartney, and R J Fallon, and A B Telfer, and J K Drury, and I J Reece, and M C Timbury
July 1833, The London medical and physical journal,
J H Winter, and A C McCartney, and R J Fallon, and A B Telfer, and J K Drury, and I J Reece, and M C Timbury
August 1831, The London medical and physical journal,
Copied contents to your clipboard!