Legionnaires' disease contracted from patient workplace: First report of a severe case of coinfection with varicella-zoster virus

Abstract

A middle-aged immunocompetent woman was diagnosed and treated for a severe pulmonary human herpesvirus 3 infection. During the treatment, an infection from Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 was also diagnosed. This coinfection threatened the life of the patient and led to serious permanent sequelae. This report highlights the importance of preventing Legionella environmental contamination, suspecting Legionella coinfection in patients with viral pneumonia, and vaccinating susceptible adults against chickenpox.

Keywords: Legionella pneumophila; brushing teeth; coinfection; human herpesvirus 3 (HHV-3); severe sequelae; working place.