Final Diagnosis: Community-Acquired Pneumonia (J18.9) Plan Pharmacology

Final Diagnosis: Community-Acquired Pneumonia (J18.9) Plan Pharmacology

Final Diagnosis: Community-Acquired Pneumonia (J18.9)

Plan

Pharmacology

• Amoxicillin 1 g PO three times a day or
• Azithromycin 500 mg once a day or

Non-Pharmacology

• Stay hydrated – Bobbie should take plenty of fluids, including water, to loosen the mucus in the lungs.
• Receive enough rest – Bobbie is not expected to resume work until the body temperature returns to normal or until the coughing stops.
• Take steamy showers and use humidifiers to provide additional moisture.

Diagnostics

• Urinary antigen testing (UAT) – An assay used to identify the C-polysaccharide antigen of pneumonia microbial in the patient’s urine. The test samples are easy to collect, and results are obtained in real-time.
• PCR test for respiratory specimen – used to detect respiratory pathogens among patients suspected of community-acquired pneumonia.
• Sputum culture and grain stain – a lab test that enables the physician to diagnose bacterial infections within the respiratory tract.
• Blood culture – it is a laboratory test that involves obtaining blood cultures before antibiotic administration since some pathogens are linked with blood cultures.

Consults/Referrals

• Not needed at this time.

Patient Education

• You should rest until you feel better and not smoke within such a period. Smoking makes community-acquired pneumonia worse. Also, if the pneumonia is severe or linked to other diseases, the doctor might recommend being treated in the hospital (Shoar & Musher, 2020).
• You should learn about the drug prescription (including its side effects) and how to adhere to the prescribed dosage. The antibiotics will significantly improve how the body fights pathogens (Shoar & Musher, 2020).
• Maintain good health habits – this includes eating right, receiving sufficient sleep, and exercising to prevent community-acquired pneumonia and other related infections. Regularly talk about lifestyle changes with your doctor to improve your health.
• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, to stay hydrated. One way to know you are hydrated is when your urine is light yellow to almost clear.

Follow Up

• Follow-up within two weeks to review the lab results and make medication changes. However, visit the care facility within 24 hours if the symptoms worsen.