Comparison of Clinical Characteristics, Treatment Response and Prognostic Differences Among Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia Infected by Different Pathogens

Objective: To explore the differences in clinical characteristics, treatment response, and prognosis among patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) infected by different pathogens. Methods: A total of 80 CAP patients admitted from January 2024 to December 2024 were selected and divided into three groups based on etiological test results: bacterial infection group, atypical pathogen infection group, and mixed infection group. The differences in clinical manifestations, inflammatory markers, symptom relief time, and hospitalization outcomes among the three groups were compared. Results: Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common pathogen in the bacterial infection group. The mixed infection group had the highest fever rate, detection rate of moist rales, and levels of inflammatory markers. Patients in the atypical pathogen infection group had milder symptoms, faster fever resolution and cough relief, but a longer hospital stay. The incidence of complications in the mixed infection group was significantly higher. Conclusion: Pneumonia caused by different pathogens shows significant heterogeneity in clinical manifestations and outcomes. Accurate identification of pathogen types is conducive to optimizing treatment decisions and improving clinical prognosis.