TY - JOUR T1 - Symptoms and signs plus erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein predicted pneumonia in lower respiratory tract infection JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 55 LP - 55 DO - 10.1136/ebm.9.2.55 VL - 9 IS - 2 A2 - , Y1 - 2004/03/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/9/2/55.abstract N2 - Hopstaken RM, Muris JW, Knottnerus JA, et al. Contributions of symptoms, signs, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein to a diagnosis of pneumonia in acute lower respiratory tract infection. Br J Gen Pract 2003;53:358–64.OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text 
 
 Q In adults with a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), which symptoms, signs, and tests best inform the diagnosis of pneumonia? Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Emergency medicine ★★★★★☆☆ Internal medicine ★★★★☆☆☆ Respirology ★★★★☆☆☆ Infectious disease ★★★★☆☆☆ Design: blinded comparison of chest radiographs with general practitioner (GP) assessed diagnosis. Setting: 15 general practices (25 GPs) in the Netherlands. Patients: 246 patients aged ⩾18 years (mean age 52 y) presenting to a GP with an LRTI. Exclusion criteria included severe clinical disease, recent antibiotic treatment, or hospital admission for respiratory disease. Description of tests: the clinical status of patients (classified as either pneumonia or other LRTI) was based on clinical symptoms and signs, and C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) blood tests. Diagnostic standard: chest radiography (lateral and postero anterior) was used as the diagnostic standard for identifying pneumonia. Outcomes: diagnostic characteristics for the performances of the … ER -