Legionnaires' disease in South Australia. Four case reports.

Four severe cases of Legionnaires' disease are described. In addition to multilobar pneumonia with respiratory failure, involvement of the central nervous, cardiovascular, renal, hepatic and coagulation systems had occurred. Adult respiratory distress syndrome complicated respiratory management. Early development of acute renal failure was associated with a poor prognosis. Erythromycin was the most commonly used antibiotic. Review of stored pathological material from patients who died from unidentified pneumonias enabled confirmation of the existence of Legionnaires' disease in Australia in 1974.