The Etiological Role of Legionella Pneumophila in Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Korea

입원한 지역사회획득 폐렴 환자에서 요중 레지오넬라항원 검사를 통해 본 Legionella Pneumophila 감염의 비중

Background : Legionella pneumophila has been recognized as an important cause of community-acquired pneumonia(CAP) requiring hospitalization. However, epidemiological data on the occurrence of legionella-related pneumonia is unavailable in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the etiological importance of legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in patients hospitalized with CAP. Method : The CAP patients over 16 year-old were recruited from July 1999 to June 2000 at the Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital. Fifty four patients (male 29, female 25, average age $63.8{\pm}15.3$) were included in this study. A diagnosis of a legionella pneumophila infection was based on a urinary antigen test using the Binax Company enzyme immunoassay. The severity of pneumonia was assessed using the Fine's PORT scoring system. Result : The average Fine's PORT score was 99.7(${\pm}44.9$). According to the risk classification proposed by the Infectious Disease Society of America, the number of patients in each class(from class I to class V) were 6(11.1%), 13(24.1%), 9(16.7%), 14(25.8%), and 12(22.2%), respectively. Thirty two patients(59.3%) were initially admitted to the intensive care unit. The mortality rate was 16.7%(9 in 54). In all patients, urinary antigens to Legionella pnewnophila serogroup 1 were not detected. Conclusion : Legionella pnewnophila may play little role in causing adult CAP in Korea. Therefore, the routine use of macrolide in the empirical treatment of the CAP patients based upon the ATS guidelines(1993) in Korea should be reevaluated.

연구배경 : 국내의 지역사회획득 폐렴 원인균에 대한 연구가 부족하며, 특히 레지오넬라 폐렴균은 중증환자에서 중요한 원인균임을 고려할 때 이에 대한 연구가 시급하다. $NOW^{TM}$ Legionella Urinary Antigen Test는 Legionella 폐렴균의 90%를 차지하는 Legionella penumophila serogroup 1에 대해 90% 이상의 민감도를 갖는 검사법으로 이를 이용하였다. 방 법 : 1999년 7월부터 일년간 강원지역 일개 대학병원에 입원한 지역사회획득 폐렴환자를 대상으로 요즘 레지오넬라 항원 검사를 시행하였다. 결 과 : 총 54예중 요중 레지오넬라 항원이 양성으로 나온 예는 없었다. 환자의 59.3%는 중환자실에 입원한 중증의 지역사회획득 폐렴 환자였다. 결 론 : 국내에서 Legionella pneumophila에 의한 지역사회 획득 폐렴은 매우 드물 것으로 생각되어, 향후 치료지침을 만드는데 고려해야 할 요소로 생각된다.