title: What diagnostic tests are needed for community-acquired pneumonia?
abstract: Diagnostic tests play an important part in the evaluation and management of patients with CAP. Tests have key roles in diagnosing the presence of CAP and in assessing severity. An ideal test for microbiologic diagnosis in CAP is not yet available, and initial antimicrobial therapy usually is empiric. Nonetheless, when appropriately applied and correctly performed, tests for the identification of pathogens in CAP are useful and cost-effective.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Long Island College Hospital, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York, USA. psmith@dnamail.com
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D018579:Patient Selection; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D013396:Suction; D013908:Thoracotomy