[Legionellosis in Poland in 2001-2002 and epidemiological situation in Europe].

Legionnaires' disease is an infectious disease under the internationally approved surveillance agreed by members of European Working Group on Legionella Infections EWGLI. Data over 12,000 cases of legionnaires' disease from 28 countries are included in European data set for years 1993-2000. The overall incidence rate for Europe in 2000 was evaluated as 5,4 cases per million population. The cases was registered as community-acquired, nosocomial or travel often foreign travel associated. Most 2,799 (70.7%) of the cases in 1999-2001 were confirmed by detection of Legionella antigens in urine of patients or by serological findings 205 (18.1%); in them seroconversion was found in 9.5% and high titer in single serum specimen in 8.6% of cases. Culture proven were only 109 (9.6%) cases, and 1.6% of cases by other methods, PCR included. In Poland in 1997 the laboratory examination of samples for diagnosis of Legionella infections started in National Institute of Hygiene. In 2001-2002 the 290 samples were examined. Five cases were laboratory confirmed, but the results of 16 specimen examined was only presumptive positive and for 8 samples equivocal. In comparison with other european countries the number of examined samples is still much to small to find legionnaires' disease cases. The minimum 220 cases by year may be expected in Poland. To find such number the examination of antigenuria should be performed in patients with pneumonia hospitalised in intensive care units because of acute respiratory insufficiency.