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 a patient needs hospitalization. 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.