7: Laboratory testing in infection

Question 1

revise pneumonia and curb65

Question 2

pneumonia - “typical features” almost always strep pneumoniae

Question 3

blood cultures are more likely to be positive in people with severe disease

and people with severe disease tend to be immunosuppressed, hyposplenic etc.

Question 4

strep pneumoniae in older people

mycoplasma pneumoniae (walking) and h influenzae in younger people

Question 5

remember that h influenzae is a gram negative coccobacillus

Question 6

ask about birds in pneumonia histories

Question 7

mycoplasma pneumoniae is the only non-virus tested for using pcr

Question 8

remember legionella is tested for using a urine sample