🌡️ Community-Acquired Pneumonia Triage & Empiric Antimicrobials
This tool combines CURB-65 with the IDSA/ATS severe-CAP criteria to triage community-acquired pneumonia to outpatient, ward, or ICU care and gives empiric antimicrobials.
Community-Acquired Pneumonia Triage & Empiric Antimicrobials
CURB-65 score (0–5)
Major criteria (respiratory failure needing mechanical ventilation or septic shock needing vasopressors)
Number of minor criteria met (of 9)
Comorbidities/risk factors (chronic disease, recent antibiotics, etc.)
When to use
Use to choose the care setting and empiric regimen, escalating to the ICU when a major criterion or ≥ 3 minor criteria define severe CAP.
How it works
Severe CAP = 1 major (mechanical-ventilation respiratory failure or vasopressor septic shock) or ≥ 3 minor criteria → ICU. Otherwise CURB-65 0–1 outpatient, 2 admit/observe, ≥ 3 admit; empiric antimicrobials stratified by setting.
Key points
- Antibiotic courses are typically 5 days and stopped only after clinical stability, with the regimen tailored to setting and local resistance. (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim)
- MRSA or Pseudomonas risk factors prompt added coverage and cultures.
- PSI is the preferred severity tool, with CURB-65 as a simpler alternative.
References
Decision support for licensed clinicians only; not a substitute for clinical judgement, diagnosis or local protocols.