Pneumococcal lower respiratory tract infections in adults: An observational case-control study in primary care in Belgium Epidemiology and research methodology in primary care

Background: Serious lower respiratory tract infections (SLRTIs), especially Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP)-related pneumonia cause considerable morbidity and mortality. Chest imaging, sputum and blood culture are not routinely obtained by general practitioners (GPs). Antibiotic therapy is usually started empirically. The BinaxNOW® and Urine Antigen Detection (UAD) assays have been developed respectively to detect a common antigen from all pneumococcal strains and the 13 pneumococcal serotypes present in the vaccine Prevenar 13® (PCV13). Methods: OPUS-B was a multicentre, prospective, case-contr... Mehr ...