Pericarditis after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation caused by Legionella pneumophila (non-serogroup 1).

A case of Legionella pericarditis caused by a Legionella pneumophila isolate other than serogroup 1 is reported in a 59-year-old man after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. On admission a 5 mm pericardial effusion was detected on echocardiography. Antibodies were detected against L. pneumophila serogroups 7 to 14 using the antigen pool and against serogroup 12 alone. Antibodies were not detected against the serogroup 1 to 6 antigen pool. The patient's clinical condition improved dramatically after treatment with clarithromycin and an echocardiography revealed the total disappearance of the pericardial effusion.