CXR Case 060

There are air bronchograms and consolidation in the medial segment of the left lower lobe.

*The rest of the lung fields are clear

This is pneumococcal pneumonia.

The left medial hemidiaphragm is obscured, confirming that this is involving the lower lobe.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is cultured in 20-25% of cases of community acquired pneumonia but is responsible for ~65% of cases with bacteraemia from pneumonia.

* Studies using PCR to isolate S pneumoniae suggest the incidence may be 35-40% of CAP cases (very variable on region and population studied)

*The use of PCR to detect S pneumoniae and other common pathogens may well become routine practice in years to come.