24/08/2026
๐ซ APPROACH TO PNEUMONIA โ EASY STEPWISE GUIDE ๐ฉบ๐ง
๐ก Pneumonia = infection of the lung parenchyma โ inflammation ยฑ consolidation.
๐ Easy approach:
Recognize โ Assess severity โ Classify โ Investigate โ Treat โ Reassess
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ด 1๏ธโฃ ASSESS SEVERITY FIRST ๐จ
Look for RED FLAGS / SEVERE PNEUMONIA:
โช๏ธ RR โฅ 30/min
โช๏ธ SpOโ < 90%
โช๏ธ SBP < 90 mmHg
โช๏ธ Confusion
โช๏ธ Multilobar infiltrates
โช๏ธ Signs of sepsis/shock
๐งฎ CURB-65
C โ Confusion โ 1
U โ Urea > 7 mmol/L โ 1
R โ RR โฅ 30/min โ 1
B โ BP < 90 systolic or โค60 diastolic โ 1
65 โ Age โฅ65 years โ 1
๐ 0โ1: Usually low risk
๐ 2: Consider hospital admission
๐ โฅ3: High risk โ hospital/ICU assessment
โ ๏ธ Clinical judgment always overrides the score.
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ข 2๏ธโฃ IDENTIFY THE TYPE
โช๏ธ CAP โ Acquired in the community
โช๏ธ HAP โ Develops โฅ48 hours after hospital admission
โช๏ธ VAP โ Develops โฅ48 hours after intubation
โช๏ธ Aspiration pneumonia โ Risk with dysphagia, impaired consciousness, etc.
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ต 3๏ธโฃ INVESTIGATIONS ๐
๐ฉป INITIAL
โช๏ธ Pulse oximetry
โช๏ธ Chest X-ray when pneumonia is suspected/diagnosis needs confirmation
โช๏ธ CBC ยฑ CRP when clinically useful
๐ฅ MODERATEโSEVERE / ADMITTED
โช๏ธ Blood culture
โช๏ธ Sputum Gram stain & culture when indicated
โช๏ธ ABG/VBG if significant hypoxaemia or respiratory failure suspected
โช๏ธ Renal function/electrolytes
โช๏ธ Viral testing when clinically indicated
๐ฌ SPECIAL SITUATIONS
โช๏ธ CT chest โ unclear diagnosis/complication
โช๏ธ Pleural fluid analysis โ significant pleural effusion
โช๏ธ COVID/influenza/other viral testing โ according to clinical setting
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ 4๏ธโฃ START EMPIRICAL ANTIBIOTICS
๐ OUTPATIENT โ LOW RISK
โช๏ธ Amoxicillin is a common first-line option
โช๏ธ Alternative regimens depend on allergy, comorbidity and local resistance patterns
๐ OUTPATIENT โ WITH COMORBIDITIES
โช๏ธ Amoxicillinโclavulanate + appropriate atypical coverage
OR
โช๏ธ Respiratory fluoroquinolone in selected patients
๐ฅ INPATIENT โ NON-ICU
โช๏ธ ฮฒ-lactam + macrolide
Example: Ceftriaxone + Azithromycin
๐จ SEVERE / ICU
โช๏ธ ฮฒ-lactam + macrolide
OR
โช๏ธ ฮฒ-lactam + respiratory fluoroquinolone
๐ Add MRSA or Pseudomonas coverage ONLY when specific risk factors are present.
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ซ 5๏ธโฃ SUPPORTIVE MANAGEMENT
โช๏ธ Oxygen if hypoxaemic โ individualize target according to patient
โช๏ธ IV fluids if hypotensive/dehydrated
โช๏ธ Antipyretics & analgesia
โช๏ธ DVT prophylaxis for appropriate hospitalized patients
โช๏ธ Treat sepsis/shock promptly when present
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ 6๏ธโฃ REASSESS RESPONSE
Ask:
โIs the patient clinically improving?โ
โ
YES
โ Continue treatment
โ Switch IV โ oral when appropriate
โ Complete appropriate duration
โ NO
โ Reassess diagnosis
โ Check adherence/antibiotic adequacy
โ Look for complications
โ Consider resistant organisms
โ Consider alternative diagnoses
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โ ๏ธ COMPLICATIONS TO WATCH
โช๏ธ Parapneumonic effusion / Empyema
โช๏ธ Lung abscess
โช๏ธ Respiratory failure / ARDS
โช๏ธ Sepsis / Septic shock
โช๏ธ Multiorgan dysfunction
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ง EXAM PEARLS
โ
CURB-65 โ severity assessment
โ
Chest X-ray โ important diagnostic investigation
โ
Do not delay appropriate antibiotics in severe bacterial pneumonia
โ
Think of atypical pathogens when the clinical picture suggests them
โ
MRSA/Pseudomonas coverage โ only if risk factors justify it
โ
Failure to improve โ always reassess the diagnosis and complications
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ