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Criteria for Severe Community Acquired Pneumonia

Description

Severe community acquired pneumonia is an important cause for admission to the intensive care unit in community hospitals. It also has a high mortality rate (up to 50%). Identification of severe pneumonia at presentation allows for more aggressive therapy to reduce morbidity and mortality.


 

Criteria for Severe Pneumonia - one or more of the following:

(1) respiratory rate > 30 breaths per minute on admission

(2) severe respiratory failure, with PaO2/FIO2 < 250 mm Hg

(3) requirement for mechanical ventilation

(4) chest radiograph showing bilateral or multi-lobe involvement or an increase in size of the opacity by 50% or more within 48 hours of admission

(5) systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure < 60 mm Hg

(6) requirement for vasopressors for more than 4 hours

(7) urine output less than 20 mL in 1 hour or a total urine output less than 80 mL in 4 hours, unless another explanation is available, or acute renal failure requiring dialysis is present

 


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Specialty

ICD-10