Legionnaire's Disease

Atypical presentation, innovative diagnosis

Abstract

Legionella pneumophila infection can have a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms, ranging from influenza-like symptoms to multisystem involvement known as Legionnaires’ disease. The latter is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and thus it is important to make an early diagnosis. The criteria for ordering the urinary antigen for this microorganism have low sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, as clinicians, we must take a thorough medical history that can point to this etiology. The following case highlights the broad spectrum of symptoms, in which the atypical presentation was able to be identified through a clinical ultrasound of the patient’s foot, establishing an accurate diagnosis, and providing prompt treatment of the patient’s clinical condition