LEGIONNAIRES-DISEASE IN RIYADH, SAUDI-ARABIA

Eighteen patients with a Legionella titre greater than or equal to 64 have been identified at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Resear ch Centre over a recent 20-month period. Thirteen were cases of sporad ic community acquired pneumonia referred to this hospital and these ha ve been reviewed. One of the patients had a history of recent travel a broad. In no instance was Legionnaires' disease entertained at present ation. The mean age of the patients was 48 years, the male to female r atio was 5 to 8. Preexisting chronic diseases were present in 11 (85%) . The most frequent symptoms were unproductive cough (77%), chest pain (31%), fever (69%), neurological (23%), diarrhoea/nausea/ vomiting (3 8%). Pleural effusion was present in 38%. Laboratory findings included hyponatraemia in 54%, lymphopenia in 54%, raised aminotransaminases i n 31%. One patient died (mortality rate 8%). No other patient required assisted ventilation. Legionnaires' disease should be considered in t he differential diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia in Saudi Ara bia. The other five were candidates for cardiac transplantation underg oing routine preoperative evaluation.