English
Use severity of illness scores in combination with clinical judgment to determine if the patient can be safely managed as an outpatient or should be managed as an inpatient. The 2019 guidelines recommend Pneumonia Severity Index preferentially over the CURB-65 criteria r6
For COVID-19 pneumonia:
Consider inpatient admission for patients otherwise meeting criteria for outpatient treatment but who are unable to safely and reliably take medication orally or who have insufficient personal support r25
Determine the optimal care setting using severity of illness scores and clinical judgment r6
For COVID-19 pneumonia: d8
For non-COVID-19 pneumonias: begin empiric therapy based on treatment setting; in patients admitted to the hospital, give first antimicrobial dose before patient leaves emergency department
General considerations
Supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation r50
Respiratory therapy c181
Breathing exercises c184
Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis r43c185