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Table 2 HPs’ adherence to diagnostic tests regarding EBG criteria for patients with CAP

From: Gaps between current clinical practice and evidence-based guidelines for treatment and care of older patients with Community Acquired Pneumonia: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Diagnostic tests and tests for non-responding patients

Patients n

Exposed for test, n (%)

Diagnostic tests:

 Chest radiography

30

28 (93.3)

 Sputum test for culture and sensitivity

25

19 (76.0)a

 Chest examination (auscultation/percussion)

30

30 (100.0)

 Oxygen saturation

30

30 (100.0)

 Mini mental test

30

30 (100.0)

 Travel exposure anamnesis

13

7 (53.8)b

Blood tests:

 Blood cultures

30

26 (86.7)

 Full blood count

30

30 (100.0)

 C-reactive protein

30

30 (100.0)

 Electrolytes

30

30 (100.0)

 Liver function

30

30 (100.0)

 Arterial blood gases

26

24 (92.3)c

 Appliance of CURB-65 score to assess disease severity

30

5 (16.7)

 Non-responding to treatment ≤48 h

28

8 (28.6)d

Tests for non-responding patients:

 L. pneumophila urine antigen test, LUT

8

1 (12.5)

 Pneumococcal urine antigen test, PUT

8

1 (12.5)

 Polymerase chain reaction test, PCR

8

3 (37.5)

 Sputum test for culture and sensitivity

8

1 (12.5)

 C-reactive protein and white cell count

8

8 (100.0)

 Chest radiography

8

7 (87.5)

 Blood cultures

8

7 (87.5)

  1. aAdjusted for patients with sputum
  2. bAdjusted for patients not able to travel
  3. cAdjusted for patients with SpO2 < 92%, RF > 20 or dyspnoea
  4. dAdjusted for patients who were discharged ≤24 h of admission