Abstract

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Polymerase Chain Reaction method for the detection of Legionella species from the respiratory tract samples

METHODS

The bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and transtracheal aspiration samples of patients having atypical pneumonia and hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of Chest Diseases Department were examined to detect Legionella species by Polymerase Chain Reaction method. This method was performed to amplify a 386-bp product within the 16SrRNA gene of Legionella pneumophila.

RESULTS

The Polymerase Chain Reaction method was applied to 56 respiratory samples and only in one specimen Legionella species was found.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that for patients with atypical pneumonia Polymerase Chain Reaction method is fast and effective for to detect Legionella species from the respiratory samples.