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Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)

       General Information

·         ISDA CAP Guidelines  CID.  2000;31:347-384

·         ATS CAP Guidelines  Am J Respir Crit Care Med.  2001;163:1730-1754

·         For the purpose of these nest few discussions we will define pneumonia as either CAP or HAP

·         Patients at risk include those with;

COPD                         HF                               DM

CRF/CRI                     CA                               CAD

Splenectomy                 liver disease                  neurologic disease

       Presentation

§         Typical s/sx include;

dyspnea                  cough               fever                 tachycardia

tachypnea               chest pain         sputum             fatigue

§         Typical elderly patient s/sx include;

confusion                fatigue              tachycardia

cough                     dyspnea            tachypnea

falls                        exacerbation of underlying disease

       Diagnosis

s/sx                              Temp

CXR                            O₂ sat

WBC                           blood culture*

Gram stain**

*rarely done in the outpatient setting

**value is controversial as the etiology is unknown approximately 50% of the time

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