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How is pneumococcal infection diagnosed?
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025
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Clinical diagnosis of pneumococcal infection is reliable only in case of lobar pneumonia, however, the probability of pneumococcal etiology of community-acquired pneumonia, otitis, sinusitis is 60-80°. The diagnosis can be verified only on the basis of the results of microbiological examination of the corresponding biosubstrate: in case of rhinitis - nasal discharge (smear), in case of otitis, sinusitis - purulent exudate, in case of pneumonia - sputum, in case of meningitis - cerebrospinal fluid. In all generalized forms of pneumococcal infection, blood culture is performed. Bacteriological blood testing is also advisable when examining children under 3 years of age with high fever to detect cryptogenic bacteremia, the causative agent of which is pneumococcus in more than 80% of cases.
In case of meningitis, bacterioscopy of cerebrospinal fluid, RLA and PCR of cerebrospinal fluid are also performed.
Transesophageal ultrasound of the heart is used to diagnose endocarditis.
Indications for consultation with other specialists
Consultations with other specialists are indicated for combined forms of pneumococcal infection. In the presence of meningeal and other neurological symptoms, a consultation with a neurologist and infectious disease specialist is necessary. Patients with a clinical picture of otitis, sinusitis are indicated for a consultation with an otolaryngologist.
Example of diagnosis formulation
The diagnosis of pneumococcal infection is formulated depending on the clinical form of the disease: "acute otitis media of pneumococcal etiology". In case of combined lesions, the term pneumococcal infection is introduced into the diagnosis structure: "pneumococcal infection, pneumonia, pneumococcemia, purulent meningitis".
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