Resources: Legionella Coinfection in a Patient With COVID-19 Pneumonia

Published: August 21, 2021 (see history)

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17356

Cite this article as: Subedi Y, Haas C J (August 21, 2021) Legionella Coinfection in a Patient With COVID-19 Pneumonia. Cureus 13(8): e17356. doi:10.7759/cureus.17356

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Abstract

Bacterial superinfection is a well-reported complication of viral pneumonia leading to significantly increased morbidity and mortality. Such superinfections have been reported in patients with pathogenic coronaviruses including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), but there are scant reports pertaining to superinfection in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We report a case of a middle-aged man who presented with worsening shortness of breath in the context of COVID-19 complicated by superimposed Legionella pneumophilia pneumonia. This case serves to highlight the possibility of bacterial superinfections and to be aware of such possibilities when patients are not responding to standard courses of treatment for COVID-19 as quick clinical deterioration is likely to develop.