Predictors of viral pneumonia in patients with community-acquired pneumonia

Abstract

Viruses are increasingly recognized as major causes of communityacquired pneumonia (CAP). Few studies have investigated the clinical predictors of viral pneumonia, and the results have been inconsistent. In this study, the clinical predictors of viral pneumonia were investigated in terms of their utility as indicators for viral pneumonia in patients with CAP. Methods: Adult patients ($18 years old) with CAP, tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for respiratory virus, at two teaching hospitals between October 2010 and May 2013, were identified retrospectively. Demographic and clinical data were collected by reviewing the hospital electronic medical records. Results: During the study period, 456 patients with CAP were identified who met the definition, and 327 (72%) patients were tested using the respiratory virus PCR detection test. Viral pneumonia (n560) was associated with rhinorrhea, a higher lymphocyte fraction in the white blood cells, lower serum creatinine and groundglass opacity (GGO) in radiology results, compared to non-viral pneumoniaand (n=250) (p