PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Alejandro Robles
AU  - Anna San Gil
AU  - Vanesa Pascual
AU  - Esther Calbo
AU  - Eugenia Viladot
AU  - Susana Benet
AU  - Bienvenido Barreiro
AU  - Eva Cuchi
AU  - Juan Torres
AU  - Lydia Canales
AU  - Jose Angel De Marcos
AU  - Josefa Perez
AU  - Javier Garau
TI  - Viral vs bacterial community-acquired pneumonia: Radiologic features
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p2507
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p2507.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p2507.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - 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.