title: Severe community-acquired pneumonia.
abstract: Severe community-acquired pneumonia necessitating intensive care unit admission is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and health-care cost. This review article serves to summarize the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of this common life-threatening condition. Current practice guidelines as well as the role of several scoring systems (such as the PSI, CURB-65, and IDSA/ATS criteria) used to predict CAP severity, prognosis, and site of care are reviewed. In addition, common complications and prevention strategies are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alberta, 3C1.12 WMC 8440 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada. wsligl@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Wendy I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Sligl
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Marrie
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D000075202:Contraindications; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines
keywords: Community-acquired pneumonia; Intensive care; Lung; Pulmonary sepsis; Respiratory failure