Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adults: A Team-Based Approach

Course overview

Community-acquired pneumonia is a lung infection acquired outside the hospital. The American Thoracic Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America published guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia that outline criteria for severe pneumonia. The Pneumonia Severity Index is also used to help determine whether the patient will need to be hospitalized. Various antibiotics may be used to treat community-acquired pneumonia. The guidelines emphasize the importance of clinical judgment and experience in patient care, including the management of immunocompetent adults. This continuing education activity reviews current evidence and guideline-based recommendations for CAP, emphasizing an interprofessional approach that integrates timely diagnosis, appropriate empiric therapy, and coordinated follow-up to enhance patient outcomes and antibiotic stewardship across care settings.