We suspect that most patients with clinically apparent pneumonia will have high CRP levels. However, pneumonia can be a difficult diagnosis to make when patients present with atypical clinical manifestations (e.g. the elderly or COPD patients), or in practice settings where radiography is not readily available. In these settings, the addition of CRP testing may help identify a small number of pneumonia cases that might otherwise go undetected and result in delays in appropriate care. In the large number of patients with intermediate probability of pneumonia, such as adults with acute cough illness who have abnormal vital signs, but normal examinations, particularly in RSV and influenza season, a CRP level < 10 mg/L could provide clinically significant reassurance to refrain from further testing or empiric antibiotic treatment. A normal CRP level may also provide support to clinicians who are receiving pressure from patients to prescribe antibiotics when they are not clinically indicated. Indirect or future benefits to society are possible if research results show that CRP-guided management strategies can decrease the costs of health care.