Microbiological investigations in hospitalised patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia
| Microbiological investigations |
| Blood culture |
| Sputum or lower respiratory tract sample for Gram stain and culture |
| Pleural fluid analysis |
| Urinary antigen test for Legionella spp. and Streptococcus pneumoniae |
| Respiratory samples for direct immunofluorescence for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in winter months |
| Respiratory samples for culture or PCR for Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Legionella spp. if well validated test available |
| Initial and follow-up serology for Legionella spp. and atypical pathogens if no PCR available; retrospective results |