A Sputum Screening Test to Rule-out Pneumonia at an Early Stage

Totally 467 samples were gathered from different clinics, and the diagnostic procedures and the therapeutic approaches were completely unknown to the study group. The coded samples were stored at 4-8°C and analyzed within 72 hours of sampling using the sputum strip test. From April to June 2016, a physician and the study nurse reviewed the journals. The age, sex, length of stay on ward, the clinical symptoms, the blood and sputum cultures and PCR along with the results, the X-rays, the antibiotic therapy, CRB-65 and the ultimate diagnosis code (ICD-10) were documented in Excel-files.