Legionella Pneumonia Following the Heavy Rain Event of July 2018 in Japan: a Case Report

doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2825-19 Intern Med Advance Publication http://internmed.jp

【 CASE REPORT 】 Legionella Pneumonia Following the Heavy Rain Event of July 2018 in Japan: A Case Report

Naohiro Oda, Tomoaki Hirahara, Yusuke Fujioka, Reo Mitani and Ichiro Takata

Abstract: We herein report the case of a 62-year-old man diagnosed with Legionella pneumonia while engaged in recovery work in a flooded area after the Heavy Rain Event of July 2018 in Japan. The patient was intubated and maintained on mechanical ventilation and continuous hemodiafiltration. He was also administered antimicrobial therapy with ciprofloxacin and azithromycin. After 53 days in the hospital, he was discharged. It is important to recognize the risk of Legionella infection and to take measures to prevent it during recovery work that involves exposure to water and soil after a flood disaster.

Key words: legionella, pneumonia, heavy rain, flood, disaster

(Intern Med Advance Publication) (DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2825-19)

aster has not been sufficiently discussed. We herein report a Introduction case of Legionella pneumonia in a man engaged in recovery work after the Heavy Rain Event of July 2018. During the Heavy Rain Event of July 2018 in Japan, tor- rential rains were recorded over a large part of the country, Case Report particularly in western Japan. This disaster resulted in 224 deaths, the complete destruction of 6,758 buildings, and The patient was a 62-year-old man who was temporarily flooding of 8,567 dwellings above the floor level (1). Nu- employed in recovery work in a region (Mabi-cho, merous people were forced to live in shelters after the disas- Kurashiki, Japan) where embankments of the Odagawa ter. Such floods can potentially increase risks of contracting River and its tributaries broke, resulting in flooding of a communicable diseases, such as water- and vector-borne dis- large area. He removed rubble, earth, and sand and was ex- eases, as well as of drowning, injuries, trauma, and hy- posed to a large amount of earth and sand dust each day. He pothermia (2). wore an unwoven mask. He had not traveled to a hot spring Legionella bacteria are environmental organisms found in before or during the recovery work. Several days after start- water, such as lakes, streams, artificial water reservoirs, and ing the work, he developed diarrhea, coughing, general fa- soil. Typically, they are transmitted to humans via the inha- tigue, and a fever. At six days after the onset of symptoms, lation of water- or soil-derived aerosols and can cause fulmi- he visited a hospital, where he was treated with beta-lactam nant pneumonia or mild Pontiac fever (3). Following the antibiotics. However, his condition worsened after four days, Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, four and he was transferred to the emergency room at our hospi- cases of Legionella pneumonia were reported in people who tal because of severe dyspnea. had nearly drowned (4-6). Although seawater inhibits the The patient was a former smoker (Brinkman index 50) growth of Legionella pneumophila (7), the tsunami deposit and presented with a history of diabetes mellitus. A physical was speculated to contain river or brackish water soil, in examination revealed a clear consciousness, high fever which this bacterium can survive. (37.7℃), tachycardia (128 bpm), normal blood pressure The risk of Legionella pneumonia may increase during (102/67 mmHg), tachypnea (32 breaths per minute), and floods; however, this risk during recovery work after a dis- weak breath sounds in the right lung. His oxygen saturation

Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuyama City Hospital, Japan Received: February 9, 2019; Accepted: April 7, 2019; Advance Publication by J-STAGE: June 27, 2019 Correspondence to Dr. Naohiro Oda, [email protected]

1 Intern Med Advance Publication DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2825-19

Figure 1. Chest X-ray showed consolidation in the right lung field (A). Computed tomography revealed consolidation with an air bronchogram in the right upper and middle lobes (B). measured by a pulse oximeter under the inhalation of oxy- East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, a high inci- gen at 10 L per minute was 80%. Laboratory tests revealed dence of shelter pneumonia was again reported because of increased levels of leukocytes (17,700/μL), neutrophils crowding, low temperatures, psychological stress, and a lack (16,992/μL), HbA1c (7.1%); elevated serum levels of aspar- of medical supplies (8). In addition, many elderly people re- tic aminotransferase (133 IU/L), alanine transaminase (103 ceiving care in nursing homes developed aspiration pneumo- IU/L), lactate dehydrogenase (416 IU/L), blood urea nitro- nia because of the sudden change in their environment re- gen (69.4 mg/dL), creatinine (5.12 mg/dL), and C-reactive sulting from the disaster (9). Thus, most cases of disaster- protein (36.02 mg/dL); and decreased serum levels of cre- related pneumonia are shelter pneumonia or aspiration pneu- atine kinase (68 U/L) and sodium (134 mEq/L). Chest X-ray monia acquired in nursing homes. showed consolidation in the right lung field, and computed In addition, disaster-related pneumonia includes cases oc- tomography revealed consolidation with an air bronchogram curring at the time of a disaster as well as during the subse- in the right upper and middle lobes (Fig. 1A, B). Gram quent recovery work. For instance, “tsunami lung” occurs in staining of sputum and blood cultures was negative, but a people who nearly drown during the acute phase of a tsu- urinary sample tested positive for Legionella, as assessed by nami. It is caused by the aspiration of water and soil con- BinaxNOWⓇ Legionella Urinary Antigen Card (Alere Medi- taining microbes, such as Legionella, Escherichia coli, Pseu- cal Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan); hence, Legionella pneumonia domonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Burk- was diagnosed. holderia cepacian, Scedosporium,andAspergillus The patient was intubated and maintained on mechanical sp. (4-6, 13). Three cases of Legionella pneumonia were re- ventilation and continuous hemodiafiltration. He was also ported during the decontamination work following the administered antimicrobial therapy with ciprofloxacin and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster (14). Decontamina- azithromycin (Fig. 2). His respiratory condition and renal tion work includes operations such as the removal of topsoil function gradually improved. He was extubated on day 12 in mountainous areas and cleaning of roads and roofs of and withdrawn from hemodialysis on day 23 of hospitaliza- residential buildings with high-pressure water. Workers en- tion. Antimicrobial treatment for Legionella pneumonia was gaged in such tasks are frequently exposed to water and administered for two weeks. However, the patient developed soil, and occupational environments with exposure to water hemorrhagic gastric ulcer, catheter-related bloodstream in- and soil have been proposed to carry an increased risk of fection by Acinetobacter baumannii, and hospital-acquired Legionella infection (15). Furthermore, people living in ar- pneumonia, all of which were successfully resolved. His se- eas where Legionella longbeachae is commonly found in the rum creatinine levels had improved to 1.36 mg/dL when he soil, such as parts of Australia and New Zealand, should be was discharged on day 53 of hospitalization. educated regarding strategies to prevent inhalation of the or- ganism when working with soil or compost (16), such as Discussion wearing mask and gloves, washing hands, avoiding touching the face when exposed to soil, or opening compost bags The rates of pneumonia incidence and pneumonia-related away from the face and keeping them close to the ground mortality increase in the event of a disaster (8-10). After the while carrying them. After a flood disaster, recovery workers Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in Japan in 1995, many exposed to soil should follow such recommendations in or- people, mostly elderly, developed pneumonia because of the der to minimize the risk of infection. unhealthy conditions of the temporary shelters in which they In addition, some individuals may have risk factors for stayed (shelter pneumonia) (11, 12). Following the Great Legionella infection. The presence of a compromised im-

2 Intern Med Advance Publication DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2825-19

Figure 2. The clinical course. WBC: white blood cell count, CRP: C-reactive protein, CRBSI: catheter-related bloodstream infection, HAP: hospital-acquired pneumonia, CPFX: ciprofloxacin, LVFX: levofloxacin, AZM: azithromycin, CTRX: ceftriaxone, MEPM: meropenem, CHDF: continuous hemodiafiltration mune system, diabetes mellitus, binge drinking, smoking, his renal dysfunction. In a previous study, immunostaining and age of more than 50 years old reportedly facilitates dis- revealed direct infection with Legionella bacteria in the renal ease development (17). Our patient presented with several of tissue of a patient with tubulointerstitial nephritis (19). In these risk factors, including diabetes mellitus, smoking, and our patient, because we did not perform a renal biopsy, di- older age (62 years old). People engaged in recovery work rect infection with Legionella bacteria in the renal tissues after a disaster who are at an increased risk for Legionella could not be ruled out. infection should be particularly careful. In addition, medical Fluoroquinolone or macrolide monotherapy is the stan- staff should consider Legionella infection in patients ex- dard treatment of Legionella pneumonia. According to a ret- posed to water and soil. Legionella pneumonia can present rospective study examining the antimicrobial treatment of with atypical symptoms, such as gastrointestinal symptoms, severe Legionella pneumonia, a combination therapy of and a delayed diagnosis can be fatal (18). fluoroquinolone and macrolide was administered to some Our patient presented with concomitant acute kidney in- patients, so this same approach was practiced in the present jury. Rhabdomyolysis complicated by Legionella infection case (20). Combination therapy is considered a viable treat- can induce renal dysfunction. In our patient, the serum cre- ment option for severe Legionella pneumonia; however, the atine kinase level was not elevated, and there was no rhab- efficacy of combination therapy has not been examined in domyolysis; severe dehydration may therefore have caused prospective studies, so further research is warranted.

3 Intern Med Advance Publication DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2825-19

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