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Low-risk outpatient community-acquired pneumonia — USMLE Step 3 MCQ

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ModerateEmergency MedicineLow-risk outpatient community-acquired pneumoniaUSMLE Step 3

A 28-year-old man presents with fever, cough, and pleuritic chest pain. Temperature is 38.6°C, pulse is 102/min, blood pressure is 118/72 mm Hg, respiratory rate is 20/min, and oxygen saturation is 97% on room air. Chest radiograph shows right middle-lobe infiltrate. He has no comorbidities and can take oral medication. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

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Correct answer: E — Outpatient amoxicillin or doxycycline

Healthy outpatients with community-acquired pneumonia can be treated with amoxicillin or doxycycline. Broad-spectrum inpatient therapy is unnecessary when severity is low and no resistant pathogen risk factors are present.

Reference: ATS/IDSA Community-Acquired Pneumonia Guideline 2019