CAP is a common yet potentially lethal infection responsible for considerable morbidity, financial loss and mortality. The most important pathogens are Streptococcus pneumoniae and the atypicals particularly Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae. In recent years guidelines have placed more emphasis upon rapid initiation of treatment rather than on an extensive diagnostic work up. In the recent IDSA Guidelines published in December 2003 in Clinical Infectious Diseases a number of

more »

... c issues were addressed. These include: 1. Update on the initial site of treatment decision. 2. Update on diagnosis of Chlamydophilia pneumoniae. 3. Pneumococcal urinary antigen test. 4. New breakpoints for cefotaxime and ceftriaxone for S. pneumoniae. 5. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). 6. Treatment., of bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia. 7. Update on Legionnaires disease. 8. Viral causes of CAP. 9. Update of pneumonia in the context of bioterrorism. 10. Pneumonia in elderly persons. 11. Prevention of CAP. 12. Update on macrolides. 13. The ketolides. 14. S. pneumoniae with reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones. 15. Update on performance indicators.