Prevalence of Legionella in pharyngeal secretions of patients with pharyngitis

A serological investigation has suggested that Legionella pneumophila may be associated with sore throat in adults. In a study of 177 adults and children with acute pharyngitis, Legionella species were not isolated from pharyngeal cultures, which utilized selective and nonselective buffered charcoal-yeast extract media. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated from 14 percent of the 177 symptomatic patients. Throat cultures from 88 asymptomatic control subjects were negative for Legionella and beta-hemolytic streptococci. Further studies are needed to determine if Legionella species are associated with acute pharyngitis.