Community-acquired pneumonia is currently a significant problem in developing countries. Annually, there are an estimated 120–160 million clinical pneumonia episodes worldwide, causing 14 million hospitalisations and about one million deaths in children aged <5 years. Although respiratory viruses are the most common pathogens associated with childhood pneumonia, most deaths are attributed to Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b. Hence, confirmation of microbial etiology is important for the individual, as well as for public health.