Figure 1.

Comparison of pneumococcal polymerase chain reaction (PCR)^a load in whole blood between microbiologically confirmed pneumococcal pneumonia (MCPP)^b cases and community controls. A, load distribution among PCR-positive children. B, Receiver operating characteristic analysis among all children, including PCR-negative children. ^aPneumococcal load (density) by PCR for the lytA gene (log₁₀ copies/mL) in whole-blood specimens. ^bMCPP defined as pneumococcus detected by culture of blood, lung aspirate, or pleural fluid, PCR of lung aspirate or pleural fluid, or BinaxNOW of pleural fluid.