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Community-acquired Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is acute infection of lung tissue acquired outside hospital, causing respiratory symptoms with compatible examination or imaging findings.

Zithromax

Azithromycin

100 · 250 · 500 · 1000mg

Azithromycin film-coated tablets from 100mg to 1000mg, used for bacterial pneumonia and skin infection. A macrolide that halts protein synthesis.

From$0.43/ tabletView

Avelox

Moxifloxacin

400mg

Moxifloxacin 400mg film-coated tablets, used for bacterial pneumonia, acute sinusitis and complicated skin and soft tissue infection. A fluoroquinolone.

From$6.63/ tabletView

Omnicef

Cefdinir

300mg

Cefdinir 300mg tablets, used for community-acquired pneumonia, acute otitis media, pharyngitis and exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. A cephalosporin.

From$3.35/ tabletView

Ceftin

Cefuroxime

250 · 500mg

Cefuroxime 250mg and 500mg film-coated tablets, used for pharyngitis, otitis media, urinary tract infection and pneumonia. A second-generation cephalosporin.

From$3.49/ tabletView

Key points

  • Cough, fever and chest pain are common, but older adults may present mainly with confusion or functional decline.
  • Oxygen level, breathing rate, blood pressure, age and comorbidities help determine whether hospital care is needed.
  • Empirical antibiotics reflect likely organisms and severity, then should be reviewed against tests and clinical response.

The listings below do not confirm CAP or determine safe place of care; respiratory assessment is required.

Confirming and grading illness

Chest X-ray often supports diagnosis, while pulse oximetry is essential. Blood or sputum testing is more useful in severe disease or when resistant organisms are plausible. Viral testing can affect infection control and antiviral decisions but does not always exclude bacterial co-infection.

Treatment and reassessment

Regimens differ for outpatient and inpatient care and according to allergy, recent antibiotics and local resistance. Hydration, oxygen and management of sepsis or pleural complications may be needed. Failure to improve prompts review for empyema, abscess, obstruction, resistant infection or a non-infectious mimic.

When to seek urgent care

Seek emergency care for severe breathlessness, blue or grey lips, confusion, fainting, chest pain, coughing blood, very low urine output or inability to keep fluids down.

Further reading