[Community acquired pneumonia in a hospitalized community: etiological study].
BACKGROUND
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) that requires hospitalization, is a common and serious disease. A permanent assessment in specialized centers, to define therapeutic guidelines according to local epidemiological factors, is mandatory.


OBJECTIVE
To study the etiology of CAP requiring hospital admission.


METHODS
Adult patients with CAP, admitted to the Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile between 1999 and 2001 were studied. A clinical, radiological and microbiological assessment was done in all patients. Blood and sputum cultures and serology for Chlamydia and Mycoplasma pneumoniae were performed.


RESULTS
Thirty one patients aged 62 +/- 18 years, 12 female, met inclusion criteria. An etiologic diagnosis was made in 74% of cases, (52% definitive, 22% probable). Frequency of definitive diagnosis was: 25% Mycoplasma pneumoniae, 19% Chlamydia pneumoniae and 13% Streptococcus pneumoniae. Mixed etiology was found in 16% and a final diagnosis was not obtained in 26% of the cases. No correlation was found between clinical and radiological patterns, and the etiologic agent. C reactive protein and erythrosedimentation rate were significantly higher in CAP due to Chlamydia and Streptococcus pneumoniae.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher frequency of Mycoplasma and Chlamydia pneumoniae, than previously reported, suggests that atypical agents should be considered in the initial antimicrobial therapy prescribed to these patients.
Fernández
Mauricio
M
Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santos Dumont 999, Santiago, Chile. mauriciof@entelchile.net
Zagolin
Mónica
M
Ruiz
Mauricio
M
Martínez
María Angélica
MA
Díaz
Juan Carlos
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification