title: Evaluation of community acquired pneumonia guidelines.
abstract: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a serious illness, in which the etiology of disease cannot be determined in 50% of the patients. The American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) have independently developed treatment guidelines for CAP. These guidelines, however, differ in their approaches. The differences can be attributed to their unique approaches. ATS favors the application of empiric methodology verse IDSA, which recommends a definitive clinical approach. Presently, a widely accepted, standardized guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of CAP is unavailable. This contributes to the large variation in admission rates, use of institutional resources, and quality of care given to CAP patients.
authors: Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago 60612, USA.
authors: T S
authors: TS
authors: Ravago
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mosniam
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Alem
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D010045:Outpatients; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents