Community-acquired pneumonia

Publication date: Available online 15 October 2019Source: Anaesthesia & Intensive Care MedicineAuthor(s): Russell AllanAbstractCommunity-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common inflammatory process contained within the lung tissue in response to infection with non-hospital pathogens. Full resolution usually occurs with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. A significant proportion of patients develop severe CAP where there is failure to contain the local immune response and these patients may require admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). The CURB-65 severity score is a rapid, objective way of predicting mortality and can be used to guide site of care decisions in conjunction with clinical assessment. Microbiological investigations permit pathogen-speciflc antibiotic therapy and provide epidemiological data. Appropriate and timely administration of antibiotics is the mainstay of treatment. Complications include empyema, treatment failure, sepsis, respiratory failure and death.
Source: Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research