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Community-Acquired Pneumonia — SCE Infectious Diseases MCQ

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EasyRespiratory InfectionCommunity-Acquired PneumoniaSCE Infectious Diseases

A 55-year-old man presents with acute community-acquired pneumonia (CURB-65 = 1). He has a penicillin allergy (mild rash only, not anaphylaxis). What is the most appropriate antibiotic?

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Correct answer: E — Oral Amoxicillin 500 mg TDS for 5 days

CURB-65 score of 1 indicates low-severity CAP suitable for oral outpatient treatment. NICE NG138 (2023) recommends Amoxicillin 500 mg TDS as first-line for low-severity CAP. A mild non-anaphylactic rash to penicillin is not an absolute contraindication to Amoxicillin — true penicillin allergy should be verified. Many patients labelled as penicillin-allergic had a non-allergic reaction (e.g. amoxicillin rash with EBV). If genuinely allergic, Doxycycline or Clarithromycin are alternatives.

Reference: NICE NG138 2023 – Pneumonia: antimicrobial prescribing