Abstract
Background: Radiologic findings in the viral community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are poorly characterized.
Aims and objectives: To describe and compare the radiologic findings of patients with bacterial (BP) vs those with viral pneumonia (VP).
Methods: Adults with CAP admitted for at least 24h in a 500-bed acute care hospital from November 2009 to October 2010 were included. Diagnostic methods were blood and sputum cultures, antigen urinary detection, sputum analysis by polimerase chain reaction for 4 respiratory bacteria and 15 respiratory viruses. Initial chest radiographs (CR) were reviewed by a team of radiologists. We defined consolidation as not well-defined opacities with aerial bronchogram, multifocal distribution as more than 1 separated areas affected and diffuse distribution as >60% of the parenchyma affected.
Results: 125 patients with CAP were included. 43 (34.4%) were BP, 23 (18.4%) VP and 21 (16.8%) co infection (BP and VP). 40.3% of patients had bilateral infiltrates. Consolidation pattern was seen in 90.3%; the rest presented with interstitial affectation. 47.2% presented multifocal distribution, 43.4% focal distribution and 9.4% diffuse distribution. Pleural effusion was seen in 14.1%. No statistical significant differences were found in the comparison of the CR according to the etiology (BP vs VP).
Conclusions: Viral CAP presented frequently with a consolidation in the initial CR. Unilateral, multifocal and consolidation pattern without pleural effusion was the most frequent radiologic finding. CR is not a good tool to discriminate between BP and VP.
- © 2011 ERS
