Contribution of amoebic coculture to recovery of Legionella isolates from respiratory samples: prospective analysis over a period of 32 months

J Clin Microbiol. 2012 May;50(5):1725-6. doi: 10.1128/JCM.06531-11. Epub 2012 Feb 8.

Abstract

We evaluated the contribution of amoebic coculture to the recovery of Legionella spp. from 379 respiratory samples. The sensitivity of axenic culture was 42.1%. The combination of axenic culture with amoebic coculture increased the Legionella isolation rate to 47.1%. Amoebic coculture was particularly efficient in isolating Legionella spp. from respiratory samples contaminated with oropharyngeal flora.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Acanthamoeba / growth & development*
  • Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
  • Humans
  • Legionella / growth & development*
  • Legionella / isolation & purification*
  • Legionellosis / diagnosis*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Respiratory System / microbiology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity