Table 5. Association between bacterial load (as assessed using real-time PCR techniques) and clinical outcome

	Low bacterial load^#	High bacterial load^¶	OR (95% CI)
	<10³ copies per mL	≥10³ copies per mL
Rapid radiological spread	1.5	25.9	22.75 (3.36–148.37)
Acute respiratory distress syndrome	1.5	18.5	14.77 (2.12–99.49)
Septic shock	9.1	44.4	8.00 (2.65–24.12)
Need for mechanical ventilation	4.5	33.3	10.50 (2.74–39.63)
Hospital case fatality rate	6.1	25.9	5.43 (1.52–19.24)

Data are presented as the percentage of patients for each outcome, unless otherwise stated. ^#: n=66; ^¶: n=27. Data are taken from [41].