Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- presence of risk factors
- persistent cough
- dry cough
- prolonged symptoms
- fever
- pneumonia on physical examination
- exposure to a person with respiratory tract infection
Other diagnostic factors
- throat involvement
- rash
- headache
- bullous myringitis
- hepatitis
- urethritis
- cervicitis
- pelvic pain
Risk factors
- close community settings
- recent exposure
- cigarette smoking
- immunosuppression
- asplenia
- age <30 years
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- WBC count
- haemoglobin
- LFTs
- oxygen saturation
- urea
- chest x-ray
Investigations to consider
- polymerase chain reaction
- serology
- nasopharyngeal viral cultures
- culture/Gram stain
Treatment algorithm
with pneumonia
with STD
Contributors
Authors
Ran Nir-Paz, MD

Associate Professor in Medicine
Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center
Jerusalem
Israel
Disclosures
RNP has received research grants from US-Israel Binational Science Foundation, Hebrew University, Rosetrees Trust, and SpeeDx Ltd. RNP is chair of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia Infections (ESGMAC). RNP is a consultant for and has stocks in eDAS Healthcare. RNP is an author of several references cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Enno Jacobs, MD
Director
Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene
Dresden
Germany
Disclosures
EJ declares that he has no competing interests.
Laura J. Christie, MD
Research Scientist
Pediatric Infectious Disease
California Department of Public Health
Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory
Richmond
CA
Disclosures
LC declares that she has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Typical bacterial pneumonia
- Viral pneumonia
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- British Association for Sexual Health and HIV national guideline for the management of infection with Mycoplasma genitalium
- Diagnosis and treatment of adults with community-acquired pneumonia
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