Of interest, median TNF-α but not CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with microbiologically-confirmed pneumonia (23.4 pg/ml IQ [17.9–31.5] and 114.1 mg/l IQ [71.4–144.9]; respectively) compared to those with microbiologically-unconfirmed pneumonia (20.2 pg/ml IQ [10.8–32.3] and 102.9 IQ [59.7–133.8]; respectively) (p = 0.002 and 0.08; respectively). This evidence concerns the gene CRP and susceptibility to pneumonia measurement.