The problem, the consequences, and rapid testing solutions
Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is a common disease that is associated with considerable mortality and morbidity, and accounts for high antibiotic consumption.1
Among adults in industrialized countries, pneumococcal pneumonia still accounts for at least 30% of all cases of community-acquired pneumonia admitted to the hospital, with a case fatality rate of 11% to 44%.2 Although numerous pathogens can cause CAP, Streptococcus pneumoniae remains the leading bacterial cause worldwide and the leading cause of mortality. It is also the most likely pathogen in patients with CAP admitted to the ICU.3
The Problem
Current evidence supports that antibiotics should be administered 4-6 hours after the patient arrives at the hospital. Because results of definitive diagnostic tests for pneumonia are not available for several days, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed.
The yield of traditional microbiological investigations for diagnosis of CAP is limited for several reasons: routine difficulties in obtaining good-quality sputum and the uncertainty of the value of its culture results, low sensitivity of blood cultures, and administration of antibiotics before samples collection.4

The Consequences
The delay of a definitive and focused diagnosis may cause patients to be at risk for adverse reactions due to the empirical use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Some broad-spectrum antibiotics i.e., cephalosporins or fluoroquinolones used to treat CAP have been strongly associated with Clostridium difficile- associated diarrhea (CDAD) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).5