Legionnaires’ Disease: Atypical Pneumonia, ICD-10 A48.1 & Urinary Antigen Test
Clinical Definition Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of atypical pneumonia caused by the gram-negative, aerobic bacterium Legionella pneumophila. It is acquired primarily through the inhalation of aerosolized water droplets containing the bacteria. Unlike community-acquired pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Legionnaires’ disease presents with distinctive extrapulmonary manifestations (e.g., diarrhea, hyponatremia) and requires specific antimicrobial coverage…