Infections that may be missed during the COVID-19 pandemic, legionella pneumophila infection: A case report

During pandemics, certain uncommon diseases might manifest within vulnerable populations. An example is Legionella spp, an aerobic, gram-negative pathogen that can thrive intracellularly. This microorganism holds significance for public health, being responsible for both pneumonia acquired in community settings and healthcare settings. Among Legionella cases, Legionella pneumophila accounts for about 90% of them. When observing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the intensive care unit, it's crucial to consider Legionella as a possible alternative diagnosis due to its similar clinical manifestations. In this case report, we aim to highlight a 43-year-old male patient, previously without any chronic conditions, who was initially diagnosed with COVID-19 but later identified to have Legionella pneumonia , presenting with symptoms including confusion, dysarthria, weakness, pain, and respiratory failure upon hospital admission.