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

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.