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Sensitivity of urinary antigen test in relation to clinical severity in a large outbreak of Legionella pneumonia in Spain

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases volume 24, pages 488–491 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Presented here are the results of Legionella urinary antigen testing correlated with patient characteristics and severity of pneumonia (Fine score) in 295 patients diagnosed with Legionella pneumonia in connection with a large outbreak in Murcia, Spain. Overall, the sensitivity of the urinary antigen test was 47.7% (141/295). A statistically significant association was found between the clinical severity of pneumonia and test sensitivity; 85.7% for patients with severe pneumonia versus 37.9% for patients with mild pneumonia (risk ratio, 2.3). Variables significantly associated with test positivity in multivariate analysis were as follows: pre-existing pulmonary disease, body temperature >40°C, leukocytosis and multilobar infiltrates. Patients with mild pneumonia may go undiagnosed if the urinary antigen test is used alone.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the treating physicians and microbiologists for their collaboration and Dr. T. Fernández for advice on the statistical analyses

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Affiliations

  1. Section of Infectious Diseases, Hospital “J.M. Morales Meseguer”, Avenida Marqués de los Vélez s/n., Murcia, 30007, Spain

    R. M. Blázquez & F. J. Espinosa

  2. Service of Microbiology, Hospital “J.M. Morales Meseguer”, Murcia, 30007, Spain

    C. M. Martínez-Toldos & M. Segovia

  3. Section of Respiratory Diseases, Hospital “J.M. Morales Meseguer”, Murcia, 30007, Spain

    L. Alemany

  4. Service of Internal Medicine, Hospital “J.M. Morales Meseguer”, Murcia, 30007, Spain

    M. C. García-Orenes

  5. Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain

    M. Segovia

Authors
  1. R. M. Blázquez
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  2. F. J. Espinosa
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  3. C. M. Martínez-Toldos
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  4. L. Alemany
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  5. M. C. García-Orenes
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  6. M. Segovia
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. M. Blázquez.

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Blázquez, R.M., Espinosa, F.J., Martínez-Toldos, C.M. et al. Sensitivity of urinary antigen test in relation to clinical severity in a large outbreak of Legionella pneumonia in Spain. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 24, 488–491 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-005-1361-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-005-1361-3

Keywords

  • Urinary Antigen
  • Legionellosis
  • Urinary Antigen Test
  • Paired Seron
  • Urinary Antigen Detection