# Reconsidering the Role of Blood Cultures in Community‐Acquired Pneumonia: A Case of Co‐Infection With Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella variicola

## TL;DR

A case of pneumonia shows blood cultures can detect co-infections missed by other tests, highlighting their importance in diagnosis.

## Contribution

First reported case of co-infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella variicola in community-acquired pneumonia.

## Key findings

- Blood cultures identified a co-infection that would have been missed by standard testing.
- The combination of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella variicola in CAP is newly documented.
- The case supports routine blood cultures for CAP diagnosis in hospitalized patients.

## Abstract

Community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.
Streptococcus pneumoniae
is the most common causative pathogen, with urinary antigen testing aiding the diagnosis thereof; however, blood culture yields are low, and guideline recommendations vary. We herein report a case of a 77‐year‐old man with pneumococcal pneumonia confirmed by urinary antigen testing whose blood cultures also revealed
Klebsiella variicola
. The detection of this co‐infection would have been missed without blood cultures. Moreover, this combination of pathogens is first reported. This case underscores the importance of routine blood cultures in CAP diagnosis and supports the Japanese Respiratory Society's recommendation for their use in hospitalised patients.

We report a case of community‐acquired pneumonia. In this case, the blood culture was essential for detection of co‐infection of Streptococcus pneumoniae and
Klebsiella variicola
, which combination is first reported.