Neumonías bacterianas no neumocócicas (I). Infecciones por Legionella. Fiebre Q. Otras

Pneumonia is one of the diseases that most commonly require medical attention. In this update we review pneumonias caused by pathogens that, although not the most common, have special characteristics. Legionella spp. and Coxiella burnetii (causative agent of Q fever) are the two most prevalent agents within this group. Identifying these intracellular pathogens as the causative agents of pneumonia has major implications for treatment and appropriate monitoring, because the latter can become chronic, and for public health. Pneumonias in the context of murine typhus, tularaemia, pneumonic plague and leptospirosis are much less common and linked to specific geographical areas and epidemiological contexts, since they are considered zoonoses (as is Q fever). High clinical suspicion is required for appropriate diagnoses and treatment, since they are not always covered by the empiric antimicrobials used to treat pneumonia.