title: Severe community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia (CAP) - a potentially fatal illness.
abstract: Two cases of severe community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia (CAP) admitted to our hospital within 24 h are described, both in young males. These two cases illustrate the usefulness of the British Thoracic Society severity criteria and serve to emphasize the importance of early recognition of adverse physiology in critically ill patients. We should not lose sight of the continued impact of pneumonia in this climate of widespread fear about severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ward 3, Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Glenshane Road, Derry, Co. Londonderry BT47 6AB, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Martin Gerard
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ward 3, Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Glenshane Road, Derry, Co. Londonderry BT47 6AB, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Rose A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sharkey
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ward 3, Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Glenshane Road, Derry, Co. Londonderry BT47 6AB, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Kenneth W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Moles
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ward 3, Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Glenshane Road, Derry, Co. Londonderry BT47 6AB, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: J Gerard
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Daly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D014139:Tracheostomy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents