Pathogen | Total | Real-time PCR | Conventional methods | p-Valuea | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NPS | Sputum | Total | ||||
Any pathogen detected, n (%) | 50 (78.1) | 32 (50.0) | 41 (64.1) | 49 (76.6) | 14 (21.9) | <0.001 |
 Single pathogen | 39 (60.9) | 28 (43.8) | 36 (56.3) | 39 (60.9) | 13 (20.3) | <0.001 |
 Mixed pathogens | 11 (17.2) | 4 (6.3) | 5 (7.8) | 10 (15.6) | 1 (1.6) | 0.008 |
Viral pathogens, n (%) | 28 (43.8) | 25 (39.1) | 17 (26.6) | 28 (43.8) | 7 (10.9) | <0.001 |
 Influenza virus | 9 (14.1) | 8 (12.5) | 4 (6.3) | 9 (14.1) | 7 (10.9) | 0.480 |
  Influenza virus A | 6 (9.4) | 6 (9.4) | 2 (3.1) | 6 (9.4) | 5 (7.8) | 1.000 |
  Influenza virus B | 3 (4.7) | 2 (3.1) | 2 (3.1) | 3 (4.7) | 2 (3.1) | 1.000 |
 Rhinovirus | 10 (15.6) | 9 (14.1) | 7 (10.9) | 10 (15.6) | NA | – |
 Respiratory syncytial virus | 4 (6.3) | 3 (4.7) | 3 (4.7) | 4 (6.3) | NA | – |
  Subgroup A | 3 (4.7) | 2 (3.1) | 2 (3.1) | 3 (4.7) | NA | – |
  Subgroup B | 1 (1.6) | 1 (1.6) | 1 (1.6) | 1 (1.6) | NA | – |
 Parainfluenzae virus | 5 (7.8) | 5 (7.8) | 3 (4.7) | 5 (7.8) | NA | – |
  Subtype 1 | 3 (4.7) | 3 (4.7) | 1 (1.6) | 3 (4.7) | NA | – |
  Subtype 3 | 2 (3.1) | 2 (3.1) | 2 (3.1) | 2 (3.1) | NA | – |
Bacterial pathogens, n (%) | 30 (46.9) | 10 (15.6) | 27 (42.2) | 29 (45.3) | 8 (12.5) | <0.001 |
  Haemophilus influenzae | 17 (26.6) | 4 (6.3) | 17 (26.6) | 17 (26.6) | 2 (3.1) | <0.001 |
  Streptococcus pneumoniae | 6 (9.4) | 3 (4.7) | 6 (9.4) | 6 (9.4) | 3 (4.7) | 0.248 |
  Streptococcus pyogenes | 2 (3.1) | 2 (3.1) | 2 (3.1) | 2 (3.1) | 1 (1.6) | 1.000 |
  Mycoplasma pneumoniae | 5 (7.8) | 1 (1.6) | 4 (6.3) | 5 (7.8) | 0 | 0.074 |
  Chlamydophila pneumoniae | 1 (1.6) | 1 (1.6) | 0 | 1 (1.6) | NA | – |
  Moraxella catarrhalis | 2 (3.1) | ND | ND | ND | 2 (3.1) | – |
No pathogen detected | 14 (21.9) | 32 (50.0) | 23 (35.9) | 15 (23.4) | 50 (78.1) | – |