[Legionaire's disease (author's transl)].

In a review of all cases of legionaire's disease known so far the epidemiology, diagnosis and therapy of this disease are discussed. Risk factors have been shown to be stays in hotels and hospitals, especially if the rooms were subject to faulty air conditioning, water containers or to earthworks. Furthermore, the male sex and an immunosuppressive therapy were established as risk factors. The diagnosis can only be confirmed by increased titer in the indirect fluorescence test. Erythromycin and Rifampicin (as a supplementary medication) have proved the antibiotics of choice.