In the United States, pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death, and the number-one cause of death from infectious diseases. This article discusses the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of adults presenting with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the primary care setting. Providers must be familiar with clinical factors associated with increased morbidity. Patients with CAP should be assessed to determine whether the severity of disease requires hospital admission. Presenting signs, symptoms, and diagnostic testing often do not identify the causative organism. Current guidelines for empiric antibiotic treatment is based on possible atypical organisms and drug-resistant organisms associated with certain at-risk groups.ObjectivesAfter reading the article, the reader should be able tocolon;1.discuss the epidemiology of CAP;2.use appropriate diagnostic testing;3.assess the severity of CAP;4.select appropriate antibiotic therapy; and5.recognize treatment failure.ThePhysician AssistantRecertification Series provides a definitive review and update of major areas of primary care medicine and the opportunity to earn Category 1 CME credit. Article selection and a blinded peer review are conducted by a distinguished panel of PA educators and clinicians. The series is designed to help PAs maintain current clinical standards.
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