Community Acquired Pneumonia Parapneumonic Effusion Pediatric Followup

Description

A pediatric patient who is being treated for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and parapneumonic effusion should be monitored for response to therapy. Therapy may need to be changed based on the clinical findings. The authors are from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Patient selection: infant > 3 months old or child with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and parapneumonic effusion

Parameters:

(1) initial size of the effusion

(2) clinical response to therapy

(3) current size of the effusion

Initial Size	Clinical Response	Current Size	Management
small	improved	none or small	Continue.
small	not improved	none or small	Continue
small	not improved	moderate to large	Re-evaluate the patient.
moderate	improved	decreased	Continue
moderate	not improved	NA	Re-evaluate the patient.
large	improved	decreased	Continue.
large	not improved	NA	Re-evaluate the patient.

If the patient has not improved and the effusion is not resolving then the patient needs to be re-evaluated:

(1) Imaging studies (ultrasound or CT) should be performed to see if any significant problems are present.

(2) Reculture pleural fluid and respiratory tract with susceptibility testing.

(3) Consider blood cultures.

(4) Review drainage of pleural fluid and correct any problems, including loculations.

(5) Adjust antibiotic regimen based on susceptibility results.

To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.

Description

Specialty

Objective

ICD-10

Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) with Parapneumonic Effusion - Followup Pediatric Patient

Purpose: To evaluate a pediatric patient being treated for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with parapneumonic effusion.

Description

Specialty

Objective

ICD-10