Community-acquired pneumonia

This chapter describes community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), which continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. In developed countries, most episodes occur in the elderly with one or more chronic underlying disease. Children are more commonly affected in the developing world. Morbidity and mortality from CAP remain high worldwide despite advances in antibiotic and intensive care therapy. Making the clinical diagnosis of pneumonia is usually not difficult. Pneumonia is suspected when one or more of the following is present: cough, purulent sputum, dyspnea, pleuritic pain, fever, chest auscultation findings consistent with pneumonia, leukocytosis, or a new pulmonary infiltrate on imaging. Once the diagnosis is suspected, the physician must decide whether hospitalization is necessary and if so, whether intensive care unit (ICU) admission is appropriate.