Legionella pneumophila seen in Gram stains of respiratory secretions and recovered from conventional blood cultures

Abstract

We report a fatal case of Legionnaires' disease in which Legionella pneumophila was easily visible in large numbers in Gram stains of clinical material and was recovered from conventional blood cultures after seven days incubation. The presence of many readily seen Gram-negative, pleomorphic bacilli in direct Gram stains of respiratory secretions should support a possible diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease.