Daniel Genné1, Hans H Siegrist, Reto Lienhard. 1. Service de Médecine Interne de l'Hôpital de la Ville, rue du Chasseral 20, 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. daniel.genne@ne.ch
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Approximately 40% of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains of unknown etiology. To improve the rate of detection of the causative microbiologic agent, the Binax NOW Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen test (UAT) was evaluated. DESIGN: In this prospective study, 67 adults with CAP were compared with 81 healthy patients to determine sensitivity and specificity of the UAT and its role in improving the etiologic diagnosis of CAP. RESULTS: An etiology could be found for 22 patients (33%) using conventional methods (14 S. pneumoniae, sensitivity 64.3%, 1/81 positive UAT control urine samples, specificity 98.8%). This proportion increased to 33 patients (49%) with the addition of the urinary antigen test (p = 0.039). Pneumococcal infection was diagnosed by the UAT in 24% of our patients without an etiologic identification by conventional methods. CONCLUSIONS: Given its excellent specificity, this test can be considered an important tool for detecting S. pneumoniae in CAP of unknown etiology, enabling the diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia in a quarter of cases.
OBJECTIVES: Approximately 40% of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains of unknown etiology. To improve the rate of detection of the causative microbiologic agent, the Binax NOW Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen test (UAT) was evaluated. DESIGN: In this prospective study, 67 adults with CAP were compared with 81 healthy patients to determine sensitivity and specificity of the UAT and its role in improving the etiologic diagnosis of CAP. RESULTS: An etiology could be found for 22 patients (33%) using conventional methods (14 S. pneumoniae, sensitivity 64.3%, 1/81 positive UAT control urine samples, specificity 98.8%). This proportion increased to 33 patients (49%) with the addition of the urinary antigen test (p = 0.039). Pneumococcal infection was diagnosed by the UAT in 24% of our patients without an etiologic identification by conventional methods. CONCLUSIONS: Given its excellent specificity, this test can be considered an important tool for detecting S. pneumoniae in CAP of unknown etiology, enabling the diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia in a quarter of cases.
Authors: M H Rozenbaum; P Pechlivanoglou; T S van der Werf; J R Lo-Ten-Foe; M J Postma; E Hak Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2012-12-14 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: María del Mar García-Suárez; María Dolores Cima-Cabal; Roberto Villaverde; Emma Espinosa; Miquel Falguera; Juan R de Los Toyos; Fernando Vázquez; Francisco J Méndez Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2007-08-29 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: David R Boulware; Charles L Daley; Cynthia Merrifield; Philip C Hopewell; Edward N Janoff Journal: J Infect Date: 2007-08-10 Impact factor: 6.072
Authors: Min Joo Choi; Joon Young Song; Hee Jin Cheong; Ji Ho Jeon; Seong Hui Kang; Eun Ju Jung; Ji Yun Noh; Woo Joo Kim Journal: J Infect Chemother Date: 2015-06-19 Impact factor: 2.211