The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 39, 308-311, Copyright © 1985 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Legionnaires' disease after heart transplantation
J Fuller, MM Levinson, JR Kline and J Copeland
The cases of 8 heart transplant recipients with legionnaires' disease are
reviewed. The diagnosis in each patient was made by fluorescent antibody
stains or direct culture of the sputum, transtracheal aspirate, or fine
needle aspirate of the lung. All patients were successfully treated with
erythromycin alone or in combination with rifampin. Radiographic and
clinical variations of legionnaires' disease as seen in the
immunocompromised host are presented.