Detection of Legionella Pneumophila in Urine and Serum Specimens of Neutropenic Febrile Patients with Haematological Malignancies

Background: Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) is a gram-negative bacterium which causes Legionnaires’ disease as well as Pontiac fever. The Legionella infections in patients suffering from neutropenia- as a common complication of cancer chemotherapy- can distribute rapidly. We aimed to detect of L. pneumophila in haematological malignancy suffering patients with neutropenic fever by targeting the (macrophage infectivity potentiator) mip gene. Subjects and Methods: Serum and urine specimens were obtained from 80 patients and presence of mip gene of L. pneumophila in specimens was investigated by PCR. Results: The L. pneumophila infection was detected in 21 (26.2%) and 38 (47.5%) of urine and serum specimens, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that the relative high prevalence of L. pneumophila in the studied patients group which show the necessity of considering this microorganism in future studies from detection and treatment point of view in cancer patients.