Streptococcus pneumoniae is the main pathogen responsible for community-acquired (CAP) and hospital-acquired (HAP) pneumonia in adults and children.
Pneumococcus can cause either bacteraemic or non-bacteraemic pneumonia. Twenty-five percent of pneumococcus-derived pneumonia cases are bacteraemic, i.e. the bacteria can be detected in the blood, and are associated with higher mortality. However, many non-bacteraemic pneumonia cases remain undetected using traditional respiratory or blood sample culture methods.
Legionella pneumophila is the species that causes more than 90% of Legionella-derived infections in humans. Specifically, Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is the most commonly isolated serogroup and accounts for more than 80% of clinically diagnosed cases.
Infection by Legionella or legionellosis can take on two different clinical forms. These are lung infection, or “Legionnaires’ disease”, which is known for pneumonia accompanied with a high fever, and the non-pneumonia form known as “Pontiac fever”, with symptoms of acute fever with a mild prognosis, which doesn’t normally require treatment.
The Simple Strep pneumo-Legio or Stick Strep pneumo-Legio test is an immunochromatographic test that uses specific rabbit monoclonal antibodies that act on the cell wall (CWPS) soluble antigen of Streptococcus pneumoniae and specific rabbit polyclonal antibodies that act on the Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 soluble antigen excreted in human urine.
