Abstract
To define the etiology of pneumonia, using a battery of serological tests, among patients presenting to physicians' offices in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia from July 2, 1989 to July 1, 1990. Patients presenting to their physician's office with symptoms suggestive of pneumonia were invited to participate in the study by completing a questionnaire, having a chest radiograph and providing acute and convalescent phase serum samples. These serum samples were tested for antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Coxiella burnetii, Legionella pneumophila, adenovirus, and influenza viruses A and B. Some of the samples were tested for antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae. Seventy-five of the inception cohort of 203 patients had a chest radiograph compatible with pneumonia, a completed questionnaire and acute and convalescent phase serum samples. There were 39 females and 36 males with a mean age of 41.7 years. Twenty-six (35%) were admitted to hospital. The mortality rate was 3%. Forty-five per cent had a diagnosis made by serology: M pneumoniae, 22 (29%); influenza A virus, five (7%); C burnetii, L pneumophila, adenovirus, two (3%) each. While it is not possible to generalize about these findings because of ascertainment bias, the data suggest that M pneumoniae is a common cause of pneumonia presenting to a physician's office and that mortality is low in this group of patients.
Highlights
PuRPosE: To define the etiology of pneumonia, using a battery of serological tests, among patients presenting to physicians' offices in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia from July 2, 1989 to July 1, 1990
The investigation of a presumed outbreak of pneumonia in a community in Nova Scotia gave us an opportunity to observe the features of pneumonia as it presents to the physician's office
If an opacity was present on chest radiograph, the radiologist notified a public health nurse, who contacted the patient to ensure that serum samples were collected and asked the patient to complete a questionnaire regarding his or her illness
Summary
PuRPosE: To define the etiology of pneumonia, using a battery of serological tests, among patients presenting to physicians' offices in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia from July 2, 1989 to July 1, 1990. METHODS: Patients presenting to their physician's office with symptoms suggestive of pneumonia were invited to participate in the study by completing a questionnaire, having a chest radiograph and providing acute and convalescent phase serum samples. These serum samples were tested for antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Coxiella bumetii. CoNCLUSIONs: While it is not possible to generalize about these findings because of ascertainment bias, the data suggest that M pneumoniae is a common cause of pneumonia presenting to a physician's office and that mortality is low in this group of patients. The investigation of a presumed outbreak of pneumonia in a community in Nova Scotia gave us an opportunity to observe the features of pneumonia as it presents to the physician's office
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