317.3 ð¥ å §ç§å°ç§èåç
317.3.1 Mechanistic Deep Dive
317.3.1.1 S. pneumoniae Pathobiology
- Polysaccharide capsule (immune evasion)
- Pneumolysin
- Spreads via aerosol
- Vaccination + herd immunity â reduction
- Antibiotic resistance (penicillin, macrolide)
317.3.2 Recent Trials & Updates
317.3.2.1 CAPE COD (2023) â Hydrocortisone for Severe CAP
- Hydrocortisone 200 mg/d à 4-8 days
- â 28-day mortality 5.7%
- Practice-changing for severe non-COVID CAP
317.3.2.2 CORTICAP (2023) â Corticosteroids in COVID + CAP
- Reaffirms dexamethasone in COVID
- Tailored to non-COVID severe CAP
317.3.2.3 PCV20 Approval (2024)
- Single dose adult immunization
- Broader serotype coverage
- Replaces PCV13 in many adult immunization
317.3.2.4 RSV Vaccines for Adults (2023)
- Arexvy (GSK), Abrysvo (Pfizer)
- ⥠60 + chronic disease
- â Hospitalization 70-80% (1-2 seasons)
317.3.2.5 Procalcitonin-Guided Therapy
- Stewardship benefits
- ProCAP, ProHosp trials
- Antibiotic-free days
- â Duration without harm
317.3.3 High-Yield Specialist Points
317.3.3.1 Empiric Failure
- Within 72 hours of antibiotics
- Reconsider:
- Antibiotic-resistant pathogen
- Atypical / unusual pathogen (PCP, fungal, TB, parasitic)
- Non-infectious cause (PE, malignancy, ILD, vasculitis)
- Complication (empyema, abscess, septic embolus)
- Alternative diagnosis
317.3.3.2 Multidrug-Resistant Strep
- High-level penicillin resistance: cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, fluoroquinolone, vancomycin
- Macrolide resistance: > 25% in many areas
- Local epidemiology matters
317.3.3.3 CAP + Underlying Conditions
- HIV: PCP, MTb, S. pneumoniae
- COPD: H. influenzae, Pseudomonas (severe)
- DM: GNR
- Asplenia: encapsulated organisms (S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae)
- IVDU: S. aureus, anaerobes
- Alcohol: Klebsiella, S. aureus, anaerobes, S. pneumoniae
317.3.3.4 Severe Atypical Pneumonia Differential
- Legionella
- Mycoplasma (rare severe)
- Chlamydia psittaci (psittacosis)
- Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)
- Francisella tularensis (tularemia)
317.3.3.5 Lung Abscess
- Aspiration (anaerobes)
- Septic embolus (S. aureus)
- Cavitary pneumonia
- Treatment: amoxicillin-clavulanate or clindamycin à 4-6 weeks
317.3.3.6 Post-Influenza Pneumonia
- S. aureus (often MRSA), S. pneumoniae, GNR
- Higher mortality
- Aggressive treatment
317.3.3.7 Procalcitonin in Practice
0.25 ng/mL: likely bacterial; consider antibiotics
- < 0.1 ng/mL: bacterial unlikely; consider holding
- Trending down: consider stopping antibiotics
- Caveats: trauma, surgery, severe shock can elevate
317.3.3.8 Sputum Quality
- Adequate: > 25 PMN, < 10 epithelial per LPF
- Inadequate: too many epithelial cells (oral contamination)
- Repeat if poor quality
317.3.3.9 Bronchoscopy Indications
- Non-resolving pneumonia
- Immunocompromised
- Suspected obstructing lesion (malignancy, foreign body)
- Failed empiric therapy
317.3.4 Pearls
- S. pneumoniae most common bacterial CAP
- Legionella: hyponatremia, GI, hepatic; urinary antigen
- CURB-65: outpatient (0-1) vs admit (⥠2) vs ICU (⥠4)
- Outpatient healthy: amoxicillin or doxy
- Inpatient non-ICU: β-lactam + macrolide OR fluoroquinolone
- ICU: β-lactam + macrolide
- Severe CAP: hydrocortisone 200 mg/d à 4-8 days (CAPE COD)
- Vaccines 2024: PCV20, RSV for ⥠60 + risk factors
- Procalcitonin: stewardship + duration guidance