Methodological approaches to deciphering the etiological structure of non-nosocomial pneumonia

Comparative analysis of the efficiency of PCR and microbiological methods for deciphering of the etiological structure of non-nosocomial pneumonias demonstrated the diagnostic significance of detecting Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA in the blood, but not sputum. Mechanisms of penetration of S. pneumoniae into the blood are discussed. © 2003 Plenum Publishing Corporation.