Community-acquired pneumonia.

Title

Community-acquired pneumonia.

Creator

File Thomas M

Publisher

Lancet (London, England)

Date

2003
2003-12

Description

This seminar reviews important features and management issues of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) that are especially relevant to immunocompetent adults in light of new information about cause, clinical course, diagnostic testing, treatment, and prevention. Streptococcus pneumoniae remains the most important pathogen; however, emerging resistance of this organism to antimicrobial agents has affected empirical treatment of CAP. Atypical pathogens have been quite commonly identified in several prospective studies. The clinical significance of these pathogens (with the exception of Legionella spp) is not clear, partly because of the lack of rapid, standardised tests. Diagnostic evaluation of CAP is important for appropriate assessment of severity of illness and for establishment of the causative agent in the disease. Until better rapid diagnostic methods are developed, most patients will be treated empirically. Antimicrobials continue to be the mainstay of treatment, and decisions about specific agents are guided by several considerations that include spectrum of activity, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles. Several factors have been shown to be associated with a beneficial clinical outcome in patients with CAP. These factors include administration of antimicrobials in a timely manner, choice of antibiotic therapy, and the use of a critical pneumonia pathway. The appropriate use of vaccines against pneumococcal disease and influenza should be encouraged. Several guidelines for management of CAP have recently been published, the recommendations of which are reviewed.

Subject

*Community-Acquired Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology; *Pneumonia; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use; Bacteria/drug effects/isolation & purification; Bacterial; Bacterial/diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology; Drug Resistance; Female; Humans; Male

Rights

Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

Pages

1991–2001

Issue

9400

Volume

362

Citation

File Thomas M, “Community-acquired pneumonia.,” NEOMED Bibliography Database, accessed March 28, 2024, https://neomed.omeka.net/items/show/3879.