Prevalence of Legionella Pneumophila among Patients with Pneumonia at Al-Mak Nemer Hospital in Shendi City, Sudan

Background: Legionella pneumophila is becoming more widely acknowledged as a significant public health concern and a cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). It must be well-known how vital different geographic locations are for Legionella species as CAP etiologic agents. The annual incidence is expected to be between 25,000 and 35,000 cases. In the summer, cases are more common when air conditioning is used. Five to thirty percent of people who contract legionnaires' disease pass away, and the untreated death rate can rise to eighty percent. Aim of the study: To detect Legionella pneumophila's prevalence among pneumonia patients at Al-Mak Nemer Hospital in River Nile State, Shendi City, Sudan. Patients and Methods: This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional, hospital-based study on 73 sputum samples meticulously collected from August to January 2022 at Al-Mak Nemer Hospital in River Nile State, Shendi City, Sudan. The following was done to all subjects: A sterile screw-top container was used to collect the sputum sample, which was then cultivated in a buffered charcoal yeast extract agar medium (BCYE). The plates were then incubated in a candle jar with 3-5% CO2 at 37ºC in a humidified atmosphere, and they were checked for Legionella spp. for 4–14 days. The growing isolates were identified by their colonial morphology, gram stain, and biochemical tests, ensuring the highest standards of accuracy. Results: There were males (44.8%) and females (45.2%); out of Seventy-three sputum samples, only 3 (4.1%) were positive cultures for Legionella pneumophila. Their age ranged from under 65 (43; 58.9%), and only 30 (41.1%) were above 65. Cases with Legionella showed no significant statistical correlation between gender, residence, duration of CAP, and exposure risks (showers, air conditioning, swimming pools, and fountains). The study found that there was a significant statistical association between Legionella pneumophila and age (P value 0.03), with a higher frequency observed in older adults (≥65 years). Conclusion: The spread of Legionella's impact on Community-Acquired Pneumonia is a global concern. Despite the lack of research from low- and middle-income nations, our study underscores the urgent need for more research in these regions to understand and mitigate the impact of this infection.