Pneumonia: Who is at Risk? – MM1610
Risk factors for pneumonia include age, smoking and presence of chronic diseases, such as lung disease, heart disease and diabetes. Preventive measures include influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and smoking cessation. GPs are at the front line of management of patients with pneumonia, starting empirical outpatient antibiotic therapy and referring those who are very ill or at risk of deterioration to hospital. A chest x-ray is important for diagnosis of pneumonia. Most patients respond to empirical antibiotic therapy with amoxycillin, doxycycline or an appropriate macrolide antibiotic. Patients with nonresolving pneumonia require reassessment to confirm the diagnosis, identify the pathogen and look for complications or underlying disease such as malignancy.
Modern Medicine – October 2016
