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Comparative Features of Pneumococcal, Mycoplasmal, and Legionnaires' Disease Pneumonias
- CHARLES M. HELMS, M.D., Ph.D.;
- JOHN P. VINER, M.D.;
- RANDALL H. STURM, M.D.;
- EDWARD D. RENNER, Ph.D.; and
- WILLIAM JOHNSON, Ph.D.
Abstract
Retrospectively, we clinically compared community-acquired cases of Legionnaires' disease, pneumococcal, and mycoplasmal pneumonias. Relative to pneumococcal and mycoplasmal pneumonias, patients with Legionnaires' disease were significantly more likely to present with unexplained encephalopathy, hematuria, and elevation of serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase than were those with pneumococcal and mycoplasmal pneumonias. We found upper respiratory symptoms infrequently in patients with Legionnaires' disease, and progression of pulmonary infiltrates occurred commonly. Differentiation of Legionnaires' disease pneumonia without encephalopathy from pneumococcal and mycoplasmal pneumonias may be difficult because of demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiographic similarities.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the University Hygienic Laboratory, and the Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Iowa; Iowa City, Iowa.
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This study was supported in part by grants from the Iowa Heart Association and the College of Medicine, University of Iowa.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Charles M. Helms, M.D., Ph.D.; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; Iowa City, IA 52242.
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- Received November 15, 1978.
- Accepted January 8, 1979.
- © 1979 American College of Physicians
