Pneumococcal Carriage in Patients With Lower Respiratory Tract Infection (LRTI)

STUDY DESIGN OVERVIEW Overall research aim To analyse pneumococcal carriage rates in patients hospitalised with LRTI. Primary endpoint Rate of pneumococcal carriage in patients hospitalised with LRTI and age matched controls. Secondary endpoints 1. Density of pneumococcal carriage in patients hospitalised with LRTI and age matched controls 2. Alterations of T cell function (Th1, Th17, T regs) in LRTI patients and age matched controls (versus younger adults as part of our existing 'P4' study). Study design Patients hospitalised with LRTI between November 2012 and April 2014 will be approached within 72 hours of admission. Patients recruited into the study will consist of those hospitalised with LRTI and a control group of age matched patients (within +/- 10 years) hospitalised for reasons other than respiratory infection.