2023•Polskie Archiwum Medycyny WewnętrznejOpen access
A case of legionnaires’ disease in a patient during the legionella epidemic in south-eastern Poland in August 2023
Mateusz Szymański, Jakub H. Śmietana, Wiktor R. Jaworski, Małgorzata M. Skiba, Małgorzata Piasecka, Alina Olender
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Abstract
In Poland, legionnaires' disease has not been an epidemic threat to date.In 2019, 74 cases were recorded, in 2020 and 2021 -46, while in 2022 there were 109 cases [1].By the end of August 2023 there were 157 confirmed cases, 18 of which were fatal.Due to diagnostic difficulties, the above figures are underestimated.However, the reported increase in the morbidity rate should be considered a local epidemic.We report a case of pulmonary legionellosis.A 53-year-old patient with morbid obesity presented to the hospital with progressive weakness, a non-productive cough, fever up to 40 °C.The first symptoms appeared 5 days earlier.The initial diagnosis showed a radiological image of bilateral massive pneumonia.Empirical antibiotic therapy was instituted (levofloxacin and ceftriaxone), passive oxygen therapy was applied via a Venturi mask with
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