Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction for Improved Detection of Pneumococci in CAP "CAPTAIN"

Inclusion criteria

• ✓. New or worsened coughing;
• ✓. Production of purulent sputum or change in sputum colour;
• ✓. Temperature \>38.0 ⁰C or ≤36.0 ⁰C (tympanic);
• ✓. Auscultatory findings consistent with pneumonia, including rales, evidence of pulmonary consolidation (dullness on percussion, bronchial breath sounds, rales, or egophony), or both;
• ✓. White blood cell count of \>10x10\^9 cells/L or \<4x10\^9 cells/L or \>15% bands;
• ✓. C-reactive protein level ≥30mg/L;
• ✓. Dyspnea, tachypnea, (\>20 breaths per minute), or hypoxemia (arterial pO2 \<60mmHg or peripheral O2 saturation \<90%).