Community-acquired pneumonia: Approaches within managed care

Disease management plans used by 3 different institutions to improve outcom es in the treatment of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) are discussed. Th e first case study reviews the development of a clinical pathway using levo floxacin, one of the newer fluoroquinolones, for the treatment of patients hospitalized with CAP. In the second case study, an approach that identifie s patients who would benefit from early conversion from intravenous to oral levofloxacin is developed. In the third study, the development of a cost c ontainment plan and a drug utilization evaluation to optimize the use of fl uoroquinolones in the treatment of patients with CAP are reviewed.