Legionella Culture (LEGI), 50008-LEGI
Diagnosis of Legionnaires disease
Specimen Source is required.
Collection Instructions for Fresh tissue or biopsy:
1. Aseptically collect a1 to 2 cm(3) piece of tissue whenever possible
All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.
Although a semi-selective media is utilized, recovery of Legionella in specimens heavily contaminated with indigenous flora (ie, sputum) may be difficult.
The Legionellaceae are ubiquitous in natural freshwater habitats, allowing them to colonize man-made water supplies, which may then serve as the source for human infections.
Legionella pneumophila and the related species, Legionella bozemanii, Legionella dumoffii, Legionella gormanii, Legionella micdadei, Legionella longbeachae, and Legionella jordanis have been isolated from patients with pneumonia (Legionnaires disease). The organism has been isolated from lung tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage, pleural fluid, and sputum. The signs, symptoms, and radiographic findings of Legionnaires disease are generally nonspecific.
Identification of Legionella species from respiratory specimens provides a definitive diagnosis of Legionnaires disease.
Organisms isolated are identified as Legionella species via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and/or 16S rRNA gene sequencing.