Legionella pneumophila

Kits: EliGene® Legionella pneumophila UNI Kit (ref: 90056-UNI)
Package size:
50 reactions
Analytical specificity: Legionella pneumophila
Specimens: sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, nasopharyngeal swab, nasopharyngeal
aspirate
Compatible instruments:
ABI 7300, ABI 7500 (FAST) (Applied Biosystems); LightCycler® 480, LightCycler® Nano, LightCycler® 2.0 (Roche); RotorGene 6000 or RotorGene Q (Qiagen); MyGo Mini, MyGo Pro (IT-IS Life Science)
CE certification: yes
Detection technology: Molecular Beacons
Clinical study description and results:

Within the frame of testing the functional characteristics of EliGene® Legionella pneumophila UNI, totally 50 clinical specimens were analyzed. The EliGene Legionella pneumophila UNI Kit diagnosed correctly as Legionella pneumophila positive 5 specimens. Totally 45 specimens were rightly determined by EliGene® Legionella pneumophila UNI Kit as negative.

Sensitivity: 100 %
Specificity: 100 %

Pathogen description:
Legionella pneumophila is a thin, aerobic, gram-negative, non-encapsulated, aerobic bacillus of the genus Legionella containing more than 50 species.  It is the best-characterized member of the genus and major causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of acute pneumonia. L. pneumophila is an intracellular pathogen when the bacteria invades and replicates in alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells. Macrolides (azithromycin) or fluoroquinolones (moxifloxacin) are the standard treatment for L. pneumophila in humans. About 3 to 8% of all community-acquired pneumonias are caused by L. pneumophilla when the case-fatality rate for patients with legionellosis is between to 30% with elderly and immunocompromised patients at greater risk of death.
References:
Heuner K, Swanson M. 2008. Legionella: Molecular Microbiology. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-26-4.

Newton HJ, Ang DK, van Driel IR, Hartland EL. 2010. Molecular pathogenesis of infections caused by Legionella pneumophila. Clin Microbiol Rev. 23(2):274-98.