TRANSPLANTATION PROCEEDINGS, cilt.36, sa.1, ss.44-46, 2004 (SCI-Expanded)
Patients with chronic renal failure are at increased risk for infections because of impaired cellular immunity. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 to 6 and to evaluate the possible risk factors for Legionnaires' disease in hemodialysis patients. Serum samples to be screened for antibodies against L pneumophila and risk factor data were collected from 252 hemodialysis patients. The overall prevalence of L pneumophila antibodies in hemodialysis patients was found to be 5.16% There was no statistically significant difference between L pneumophila seropositivity and potential risk factors. Further studies are needed to determine possible risk factors for Legionnaires' disease in hemodialysis patients.