Azad Khaledi1, Seyed-Alireza Esmaeili2, Hossein Vazini3, Pezhman Karami4, Afsane Bahrami5, Amirhossein Sahebkar6. 1. Infectious Diseases Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR, Iran. 2. Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Immunology Department, Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. 3. Nursing Department Basic Sciences Faculty, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran. 4. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IR, Iran. 5. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran. 6. Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical of Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical of Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical of Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: amir_saheb2000@yahoo.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Legionella pneumophila is the main cause for community-acquired pneumonia especially in hospital environments. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the prevalence of L. pneumophila in clinical samples obtained from Iranian patients. METHODS: The studies reporting L. pneumophila prevalence in Iranian clinical samples that were published between January 2000 and July 2016 were recruited. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software (version 3.3.070) was used for quantitative data analysis. Because of high heterogeneity between the studies according to the Cochrane Q and I2 statistics, a random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen studies encompassing 1956 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of L. pneumophila was 9.6% in clinical samples obtained from the Iranian patients. The age spectrum ranged from 6 months to 80 years old. Dyspnea and cough comprised the most common clinical manifestations. In the subgroup analysis, the prevalence of L. pneumophila was higher in studies with sample size ≤100 (12.9%) in comparison with studies with sample size >100 (8.4%). In addition, the prevalence of L. pneumophila was higher in the years 2009-2016 (9.2%) compared with 2000-2008 (0.7%). CONCLUSION: L. pneumophila is a major cause of community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia. It is of pivotal importance to implement sensitive and reliable molecular and culture-based techniques to detect and control this infection in healthcare environments.
BACKGROUND: Legionella pneumophila is the main cause for community-acquired pneumonia especially in hospital environments. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the prevalence of L. pneumophila in clinical samples obtained from Iranian patients. METHODS: The studies reporting L. pneumophila prevalence in Iranian clinical samples that were published between January 2000 and July 2016 were recruited. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software (version 3.3.070) was used for quantitative data analysis. Because of high heterogeneity between the studies according to the Cochrane Q and I2 statistics, a random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen studies encompassing 1956 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of L. pneumophila was 9.6% in clinical samples obtained from the Iranian patients. The age spectrum ranged from 6 months to 80 years old. Dyspnea and cough comprised the most common clinical manifestations. In the subgroup analysis, the prevalence of L. pneumophila was higher in studies with sample size ≤100 (12.9%) in comparison with studies with sample size >100 (8.4%). In addition, the prevalence of L. pneumophila was higher in the years 2009-2016 (9.2%) compared with 2000-2008 (0.7%). CONCLUSION:L. pneumophila is a major cause of community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia. It is of pivotal importance to implement sensitive and reliable molecular and culture-based techniques to detect and control this infection in healthcare environments.