You Are an RN Working in the Emergency Department (ED)

You are an RN working in the emergency department (ED) at a major hospital in New York City. During one shift, you see two patients who are exhibiting coughing with blood-containing sputum, and shortness of breath. Both patients report that they have experienced headaches, muscle aches, high fever, confusion, and shaking chills in the days preceding their ED visit. One of the patients also has some digestive tract symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. You discover that the patients live in the same apartment building, although they do not know each other. You suspect that they have a type of pneumonia, and given the circumstances, think it may be legionellosis. You read up on this disease to refresh your memory about it.
-L. pneumophila was unrecognized as the causative agent of legionellosis for a long time. Why is this?

A) L. pneumophila both stains poorly with common methods, and is difficult to culture in the laboratory.
B) The organism is fastidious and is difficult to culture in the laboratory.
C) L. pneumophila stains poorly with common methods, so is difficult to detect.
D) L. pneumophila has no surface antigens and thus cannot be stained with fluorescence.
E) There is no way to grow L. pneumophila in vitro; this organism can only be cultivated in cell cultures or viruses.