Pneumonia

Clinical Action Points

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Identify symptoms of pneumonia, including fever, cough, and sputum production, through comprehensive clinical evaluation and physical examination.
Confirm diagnosis with chest radiographs and molecular diagnostics, such as PCR, to identify causative pathogens.
Evaluate patients with suspected community-acquired pneumonia for common pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, using clinical criteria and diagnostic tools.
Diagnose hospital-acquired pneumonia based on clinical signs, including fever, leukocytosis, and new or progressive infiltrates on chest imaging.
Initiate empiric antibiotic therapy promptly, adjusting based on local resistance patterns and patient-specific factors, and transition to oral therapy upon stabilization.
Investigate nonresolving pneumonia with advanced imaging techniques, such as CT scans and bronchoscopy, to identify underlying causes.