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Legionella species are estimated to account for 2% to 5% of community-acquired pneumonia cases in adults. However, these figures may be low, because specific testing often occurs erratically outside of outbreak situations.
In the Christchurch region of New Zealand, Legionella is a common cause of pneumonia; since the 1990s, all respiratory specimens from hospitalized patients with pneumonia have been cultured for these organisms. Beginning in October 2010, the laboratory began routine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for Legionella on such specimens. In a quasi-experimental pre–post comparison study, researchers compared results for the 2 years preceding the introduction of routine PCR testing with those for the 2 years after the intr…