What the PERCH study means for future pneumonia strategies

Identifying the causes of acute lower respiratory infections is challenging in most clinical settings, especially so in hospitals in low-income and middle-income countries where bacteriology and other diagnostic services are scarce. The diseases encompassed within WHO's clinical definition of pneumonia include bacterial and viral pneumonia, acute viral bronchiolitis, and bacterial and viral bronchitis. These conditions can coexist and duel pathogens are common, especially in severely unwell children in low-resource settings.