Severe pneumonia — DipIMC MCQ

Correct answer: E — Give oxygen, recognise high-risk infection and transport urgently with pre-alert

Give oxygen, recognise high-risk infection and transport urgently with pre-alert is the best answer because pneumonia with confusion, hypotension and tachypnoea is high risk and may represent sepsis. Use oral analgesia as the main treatment is less appropriate because oral therapy is inadequate or unreliable in major trauma; Defer treatment until a senior hospital doctor reviews the patient is less appropriate because pre-hospital clinicians must treat immediate threats within scope. Give unrestricted crystalloid to normalise blood pressure and Immobilise every joint and delay departure for a detailed examination are also suboptimal because they move attention away from the key pre-hospital priority.. The key DipIMC principle is to treat immediate reversible threats, communicate clearly and move the patient toward the right definitive care.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; NICE Pneumonia guidance