Community-acquired pneumonia

Lancet. 2015 Sep 12;386(9998):1097-108. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60733-4. Epub 2015 Aug 12.

Abstract

Community-acquired pneumonia causes great mortality and morbidity and high costs worldwide. Empirical selection of antibiotic treatment is the cornerstone of management of patients with pneumonia. To reduce the misuse of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance, and side-effects, an empirical, effective, and individualised antibiotic treatment is needed. Follow-up after the start of antibiotic treatment is also important, and management should include early shifts to oral antibiotics, stewardship according to the microbiological results, and short-duration antibiotic treatment that accounts for the clinical stability criteria. New approaches for fast clinical (lung ultrasound) and microbiological (molecular biology) diagnoses are promising. Community-acquired pneumonia is associated with early and late mortality and increased rates of cardiovascular events. Studies are needed that focus on the long-term management of pneumonia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Community-Acquired Infections / diagnosis
  • Community-Acquired Infections / drug therapy
  • Community-Acquired Infections / microbiology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Management
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Pneumonia / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Glucocorticoids