From bronchopneumonia to sepsis: “An unexpected diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease” a rare case report

Diagnosing fastidious organisms like Legionella pneumophila is difficult in peripheral laboratories due to the unavailability of specialized media such as BCYE agar and the delayed results of serological tests, which are mainly epidemiological. Rapid multiplex PCR platforms, such as the BioFire® Pneumonia Panel, enable timely detection of rare pathogens including L. pneumophila. A 45-year-old female with fever, chest pain, breathlessness, and productive cough was admitted with pneumonia and sepsis. BioFire testing of a mini-BAL sample confirmed L. pneumophila. Early molecular diagnosis ensures targeted therapy, improves outcomes, and supports antimicrobial stewardship.