COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA IN ADULTS - CLINICAL-PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR ARGENTINA

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) affects approximately 1% of the pop ulation annually. Initial antimicrobial therapy is most often empirica l. Guidelines designed in other countries for the empirical management of CAP are not recommended for use in Argentina. Studies from other c ountries were considered together with unpublished local data to defin e the potential etiologic microorganisms and their antimicrobial susce ptibility. Recommended diagnostic tests, groups of patients for differ ent therapies and hospitalization criteria were defined. Severe CAP re quiring intensive care was distinguished from the rest because of its distinct spectrum of etiologic agents and its high mortality, requirin g a more focused therapy, Age, coexisting conditions and severity of i llness were taken into account in the election of therapy.