CPG for Community-acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in Immunocompetent Adults 2016
Internationally, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains the leading cause of death from an infectious disease. It is the sixth leading cause of death overall and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Since the last publication of Philippine Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Diagnosis, Empiric Management, and Prevention of Community-acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in Immunocompetent Adults in 2010, several changes had emerged:
- Multiple international societies had published and revised their guidelines of the management of patients with CAP.
- New organisms had emerged and development of resistance had increased over time among respiratory pathogens.
- The influx and efflux of antimicrobial agents used in the treatment had likewise posed a threat to the rapid rise of antimicrobial resistance. The use, misuse, abuse and overuse had also shaken the market of antimicrobial agents.
It is for these reasons that a long overdue update on the management of CAP is needed. There is a need to standardize care by providing management strategies based on best available evidences. The evidences may be the same; however, regional differences, causative agents, antibiotic resistance rates, drug licensing, healthcare structure and available resources may vary. Recommendations made by one national organization may therefore not be applicable to other countries