Serologic studies in the diagnosis of pneumonia

: The importance of serological determination procedures for the diagnosis of pathogens was investigated in 207 episodes of pneumonia. The pathogenic organisms were detected in 138 cases; in 40 cases serological analysis helped to establish the diagnosis, while in 11 cases of pneumonia, the diagnosis was possible only with serology. The organisms most commonly found by serological investigations were Cytomegalovirus (n = 10), Aspergillus fumigatus (n = 7), and the influenza B virus (n = 7). Multiple infections, usually triggered by bacterial pathogens, were found in 48% of the cases of pneumonia with serological evidence of pathogens. In 71 episodes of pneumonia, the patients were immunosuppressed; in 11 cases, the causative organism was detected serologically.