Microbiological analysis:
The hemoglobin level, thrombocyte and leukocyte count, CRP level, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were examined upon admission, and there was no significant difference in terms of these factors between the CCAP and CAP groups. CCAP patients had a significantly higher CRP level than CAP patients (10.06±7.55 vs 4.43±3.37 g/L, p=0.007) (Table-1). No pathological growth was observed in the samples in one patient who underwent sputum culture and in 15 patients who underwent thoracentesis. In 3 (4.4%) of 68 patients who underwent blood culture, growth was observed. In two patients who were followed-up for CAP, growth in the blood culture during follow-up (n=1, Staphylococcus SPP and n=1, Streptococcus acidominimus ) was considered contamination, and there was no growth in the control blood cultures. Moreover, clinical and radiological improvements were observed in these patients without changing the current therapy. Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth was observed in the blood culture of a patient who was followed for CCAP and pneumatocele after NP, and treatment was modified accordingly (Table-4).
In total, 22 (19.46%) patients underwent respiratory viral DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, and microorganisms were not detected via PCR in 8 patients. In total, 14 (63.6%) patients (n=6, respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]; n=3, adenovirus; n=2, influenza type A; n=1, coronavirus; n=1, metapneumovirus; and n=1, bocavirus) had positive PCR results. Not all patients can undergo respiratory viral PCR amplification due to technical problems. Hence, RSV and other viral agents identified via viral PCR amplification were not significant risk factors for CCAP development (Table-4).