When should I consider hospital admission for a patient with suspected community-acquired pneumonia?

Guideline-aligned answer with reasoning, red flags and references. Clinically reviewed by Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP.

Posted: 14 August 2025Updated: 14 August 2025 Guideline-Aligned (High Confidence) Clinically Reviewed
Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGPClinical Lead • iatroX

Consider hospital assessment for people with a CRB65 score of 2 or more, or a CURB65 score of 2 or more, especially if they have symptoms suggesting a more serious illness or condition such as cardiorespiratory failure or sepsis ,.

Arrange urgent admission to hospital for a CURB65 score of 3 or more .

Use clinical judgement alongside risk scores to decide on hospital admission, considering factors such as social circumstances, comorbidities, and patient wishes ,.

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