Combining Gram stain and 16S qPCR improved diagnostic accuracy for suspected pneumonia and could become a new metric in the rapid diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections.

The frequency of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in hospitals and the risk of delaying effective treatment result in the culture of respiratory secretions for nearly all patients with suspected pneumonia. Culture delays contribute to over prescribing and use of broader spectrum antibiotics. The need for improved rapid diagnostics for early assessment of suspected hospital pneumonia.