The relationship between the aetiology of pneumonia in adults and certain clinical and radiographic findings

Summary

One hundred and six adults with pneumonia were reviewed to determine to what extent the presence of infections with viruses, mycoplasma and bacteria could be related to certain clinical and radiographic findings. Fifty-three patients with serological evidence of a recent infection with a virus or M. pneumoniae were compared with 53 patients in whom serological tests were negative. In a high proportion of both groups either potential bacterial pathogens were isolated or there was a history of antibacterial therapy before bacteriological examination.

The findings suggest that in pneumonia associated with viral or mycoplasmal infections in adults ill enough to be admitted to hospital there is frequently an accompanying bacterial infection. There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients in each group with mucoid sputum or raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate or white blood cell count. Nor was there any difference in the proportion of patients with different types of radiographic abnormality. It is possible that bacterial infection affected the clinical and radiographic findings in patients with viral or mycoplasmal infections.