Nasopharyngeal detection of atypical bacteria by multiplex polymerase chain reaction panel in acutely ill children was associated with an increased risk of pneumonia.

Aim: We aimed to assess whether detection of respiratory bacteria by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing associates with clinical outcomes in acutely ill children.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled children under the age of 18 with a suspected respiratory infection treated in a paediatric emergency department of Oulu University Hospital, Finland from January 2015 through December 2015. Nasopharyngeal samples were routinely analysed for 16 respiratory viruses and later, after storage, analysed with a multiplex PCR panel for seven respiratory bacteria.