Sporadic Legionellaceae pneumonia in renal transplant recipients. A survey of 70 autopsies, 1964 to 1979.

The discovery in recent years of previously unrecognized pathogenic bacteria now classified in the family Legionellaceae raised the possibility that significant but undetected infections from these organisms might have occurred in the past. The known susceptibility of immunosuppressed patients to these organisms led us to examine, by direct immunofluorescence, lung tissue from 70 autopsies of renal transplant recipients. Only two cases were detected, one each due to Legionella bozemanii (WIGA) and L micdadei (Pittsburgh pneumonia gent). The lack of cases in this high-risk population contrasts with recent outbreaks at several other institutions and highlights the focal and frequently nosocomial distribution of these infections. A reservoir for these organisms probably did not exist at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Boston, during the 15-years period of this study.