The pneumonia severity index (PSI) and CURB-65 are widely used tools for the prediction of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This study was conducted to evaluate validation of severity scoring system including the PSI and CURB-65 scores of Korean CAP patients. In the prospective CAP cohort (participated in by 14 hospitals in Korea from January 2009 to September 2011), 883 patients aged over 18 yr were studied. The 30-day mortalities of all patients were calculated with their PSI index classes and CURB scores. The overall mortality rate was 4.5% (40/883). The mortality rates per CURB-65 score were as follows: score 0, 2.3% (6/260); score 1, 4.0% (12/300); score 2, 6.0% (13/216); score 3, 5.7% (5/88); score 4, 23.5% (4/17); and score 5, 0% (0/2). Mortality rate with PSI risk class were as follows: I, 2.3% (4/174); II, 2.7% (5/182); III, 2.3% (5/213); IV, 4.5% (11/245); and V, 21.7% (15/69). The subgroup mortality rate of Korean CAP patients varies based on the severity scores and CURB-65 is more valid for the lower scores, and PSI, for the higher scores. Thus, these variations must be considered when using PSI and CURB-65 for CAP in Korean patients.

Purpose : The aim of this study was to examine the sensitivity and specificity of the influenza rapid antigen test, in comparison with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), according to the time of the test from symptom onset and the clinical manifestations in the patients tested for suspected infection of the influenza A (H1N1) at a second hospital.Methods : A total of 529 pediatric patients, aged between 6 and 12 years old, who visited the emergency department from October 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009, received the influenza rapid antigen test and RT-PCR. We examined the sensitivity and specificity of the influenza rapid antigen test in comparison with RT-PCR according to the time of the test from symptom onset (˂24 hours, 24 to 48 hours, 48 to 72 hours, ˃72 hours) and clinical manifestations (fever, cough, rhinorrhea·nasal obstruction, sore throat, gastrointestinal symptoms, and general symptoms) in a retrospective study based on hospital charts.Results : The sensitivity of the influenza rapid antigen test at elapsed times of less than 24 hours, 24 to 48 hours, and 48 to 72 hours after the onset of the symptoms was 53.9%, 61.4%, and 62.1% respectively. When the elapse time was greater than 72 hours, the sensitivity was 31.6%; thus, the sensitivity of the influenza rapid antigen test tended to decrease with elapsed time. The sensitivity of the test was 79% in patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms, which was the highest, but there was no statistical difference according to the clinical manifestations of the patients.Conclusions : Our study suggests that more accurate results might be gained when the influenza rapid antigen test is performed within 72 hours after symptom onset. [Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis(Korea) 2012;22:71-77]