Legionellosis in Brazil: a serological survey among blood donors and personnel of intensive care units of 3 São Paulo hospitals
Veronesi, R.; Barbosa, S.F.; Coscina, A.L.; Lima, A.C.
Revista do Hospital das Clinicas 39(6): 257-259
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-8781 PMID: 6399154 Document Number: 233170
To determine the presence of the causative agent of legionellosis in Brazil, a serological survey was carried out by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (I.F.A. test) in 4 groups of people living and working in Sao Paulo. Three groups consisted of Intensive Care Respiratory Units (I.C.R.U.) in 3 general hospitals in the city, and the 4th group from donors of a blood bank. In the I.C.R.U. group, 193 blood samples (15%) tested positive. In the blood bank group 120 blood samples (2.5%) tested positive. These results suggest that legionellosis infection is probably more probable among people working in environments where the bacterium is believed to be most prevalent, e.g., I.C.R.U.