Abstract

We present the case of a 70-year-old male patient, hypertensive and ex-smoker who was hospitalized for dyspnea, malaise, fever and abdominal pain. After the initial approach with nifuroxazide and cefotaxime, he showed no improvement and, upon further study, he was diagnosed with L. pneumophila pneumonia. After the diagnosis and receiving therapy with levofloxacin, he showed improvement and recovered from the initial symptoms, for which he was discharged. Diagnostic and approach difficulties and the national situation for the detection of L. pneumophila in Costa Rica are discussed.

Keywords: Legionnaires’ Disease; Legionella pneumophila; pneumonia; water monitoring.