Community acquired pneumonia – NICE guidance

ASSESSMENT- patient presents with LRTI symptoms.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue- air sacs become filled with microorganisms , fluid and inflammatory cells Diagnosis is based on symptoms of an acute LRTI and can be confirmed by a CXR. Management strategies differ - this chart here is focused on CAP ( Community acquired Pneumonia )- which is pneumonia that is acquired outside hospital including people living in a nursing or residential home.

Between 0.5 % to 1 % of adults will have CAP/ yr Diagnosed in 5- 12 % of adults who present with LRTI symptoms to GPs 22- 42 % of them are admitted to hospital where the mortality rate is between 5% to 14 % Risk of death is up to 30 % if patient is managed in intensive care More than 1/2 of pneumonia- related deaths is in people older than 84 yrs.

Symptoms and signs of LRTI -acute illness - present for 21 days or less cough is the main symptom and at-least one other LRTI symptom as♦ fever♦ sputum production♦ breathlessness♦ wheeze♦ chest discomfort or pain AND no alternative explanation as sinusitis or asthma.If after clinical assessment a diagnosis of pneumonia has not...