TABLE 2

Guidelines for the management and treatment for community-acquired pneumonia

Pneumonia severityModerate severityHigh severity
BTS guidelines

  1. CURB65 score 2

  1. CURB65 score 3–5

  • Treat with oral/i.v. amoxicillin+clarithromycin or doxycycline, moxifloxacin or levofloxacin

  • Treat with co-amoxiclav plus clarithromycin/benzylpenicillin plus levofloxacin or ciprofloxacin/cephalosporine plus clarithromycin

ATS/IDSA guidelines

  1. Direct admission to intensive care unit: septic shock requiring vasopressor support and/or respiratory failure requiring intubation and ventilation

  • β-lactam plus a macrolide or fluoroquinolone

BTS: British Thoracic Society; ATS: American Thoracic Society; IDSA: Infectious Disease Society of America; CURB65: confusion, urea >7 mmol·L−1, respiratory rate ≥30 breaths·min−1, blood pressure <90mmHg (systolic) ≤60 mmHg (diastolic), age ≥65 years.