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Background Etiological epidemiology and diagnosis are important issues for CAP and NHCAP. Despite the availability of effective therapies, significant morbidity and mortality ensues. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the etiology of 200 pneumonia patients at the University of the Ryukyus Hospital. Patients were categorized into CAP (n = 97) or NHCAP (n = 103), according to the Japanese Respiratory Society guidelines. Diagnoses were made using clinical tests including, Gram stain, bacterial culture, serum and urinary tests. Results Pathogens were detected in 71% of patients, and identified as the source of infection in 52% (104/200). The majority of patients suffered from Streptococcus pneumoniae (32/200), Haemophilus influenzae (22/200), and Moraxella catarrhalis (16/200). Gram stain guided pathogen-oriented therapy decisions for 38 of 96 patients with unknown pathogens. Atypical pathogens were only diagnosed in CAP patients (n = 5). Severity of pneumonia was related to male sex ( p = 0.006), and preexisting conditions, such as chronic heart failure ( p < 0.001) and COPD ( p < 0.001). Risk factors associated with increased length of stay included chronic heart failure, chronic renal failure, other pulmonary diseases and diabetes. Mortality for NHCAP patients was associated with lung cancer and bronchiectasis. CAP patients were more frequently admitted during winter months, while NHCAP patients were admitted during all other seasons. Seasonal patterns for individual pathogens could not be determined. Conclusion Gram staining remains useful to guiding diagnostics. Pathogens affecting CAP and NHCAP patients were not significantly different; as such, attention should be focused on the management of underlying conditions. Clinical outcomes were not affected by guideline discordant therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This prospective study was performed to evaluate and compare the performance of the multiplex PCR Seeplex ® assays and Anyplex™ II assays. From May 2014 until April 2016, a total of 247 respiratory samples were collected in Okinawa, Japan. Multiple respiratory pathogens were detected in 37% of patients with positive results. The most prevalent pathogens were influenza A virus and respiratory syncytial virus B. Despite minor differences in capabilities, both the Seeplex ® assays and Anyplex™ II assays can be easily implemented in diagnostic or research laboratories to optimize the detection and management of respiratory pathogen induced diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pneumonia cases can vary in both severity and chest X-ray findings. Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels may be an indicator of disease severity. We retrospectively evaluated factors correlated with the extent of chest X-ray infiltration both in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and a subgroup of cases with pneumococcal pneumonia. In a clinical study that evaluated the efficacy of sitafloxacin, 137 patients with CAP had been previously enrolled. In our study, 75 patients with pneumococcal pneumonia were identified among these 137 CAP patients. The extent of chest X-ray infiltration was scored and correlations with age, sex, body temperature, white blood cell (WBC) count, and CRP levels were analyzed using multivariate analysis with logistic regression. Significant correlations were observed between the extent of chest X-ray infiltration and CRP levels in both CAP and pneumococcal pneumonia. Our data indicates that CRP is a valuable and informative resource that could reflect the severity of pneumonia in cases of both CAP and pneumococcal pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]