In pneumonia caused by bacterial infection, patients will have elevated white blood cells in their blood counts, with a percentage of neutrophils mostly above 80%, and will have a left shift of the nucleus. Patients who are alcoholics or older and weaker may not have elevated white blood cell counts, but their neutrophils will be elevated. Patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumonia have normal or slightly elevated peripheral white blood cells. Patients with viral pneumonia will have a normal white blood cell count, but the blood sedimentation will also be within the normal range, and sputum smears will have a high number of mononuclear leukocytes.