Rapid Diagnosis of Legionnaires' Disease by Direct Immunofluorescent Staining

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Abstract
A blind reading of direct immunofluorescent staining of sputum smears was positive in 5 of 21 patients with Legionnaires'' disease and none of 47 control patients. Positive slides showed from 8 organisms/smear (1 slide) to 20-100 organisms/oil-immersion (magnification, 100) field (3 slides). Two of the positive specimens were obtained through an endotracheal tube, 1 at bronchoscopy and the other positive slides were from expectorated specimens. In addition, 2 open-lung biopsies and a bronchial lavage sediment from 3 confirmed cases of Legionnaires'' disease were positive by direct immunofluorescent staining for Legionnaires'' disease bacterium.