Key Points

• An increase in the number of reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease among residents of the region (n=127) in 2021 compared to 2020 (n=76), which was impacted by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, but stable compared to previous years.

• A peak occurred in July, similar to what was observed in France in 2021, but unlike previous years (peak in June).

• Incidence rate of reported cases of legionellosis was 2.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2021, lower than the incidence rate in metropolitan France (3.1 per 100,000).

• No increase in the number of reported Legionnaires' disease cases in only two departments: Lot-et-Garonne and Haute-Vienne.

• Characteristics of Legionnaires' disease cases similar to those observed in mainland France and in previous years: higher reporting rate among men (male-to-female ratio = 2.3) and an increase in incidence observed with age across all genders.

• Increased use of culture as a complementary diagnostic method to urinary antigen testing, which allows for comparison with a potential environmental strain; however, the rate of use of this technique remains insufficient (37%).