Clinical meaning
Pneumonia involves alveolar consolidation from infection. CAP: S. pneumoniae most common. CURB-65 guides disposition: 0-1 outpatient, 2 consider admission, >=3 ICU. Outpatient: amoxicillin or doxycycline (healthy) or FQ/beta-lactam+macrolide (comorbidities). Procalcitonin <0.25 suggests viral.
Diagnosis & workup
Diagnostics & workup: - Polysomnography for sleep-disordered breathing - Pulse oximetry and continuous SpO2 monitoring - Sputum culture, Gram stain, and AFB stain - 6-minute walk test for functional capacity assessment - Procalcitonin for bacterial vs viral pneumonia differentiation - Pulmonary function tests: FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio, DLCO - Thoracentesis with Light criteria for pleural effusion classification
Risk factors: - Prior TB exposure or latent TB infection - Obesity with restrictive physiology and OSA - Immunocompromised state increasing pneumonia susceptibility - Connective tissue disease with ILD predisposition - Cystic fibrosis genotype (CFTR mutations) - Current or former tobacco use (pack-year calculation) - Prematurity with bronchopulmonary dysplasia history