CURB-65 :Score to determine the severity of pneumonia.

This is a score to determine the severity of pneumonia.

The CURB-65 criteria include five variables(1 point for each variable):

  • Confusion
  • Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) >7 mmol/L 
  • Respiratory rate  ≥30/min
  • Blood pressure, systolic ≤90 mmHg or diastolic  ≤60 mmHg
  • Age ≥65 years.


Management:

0 point: Treat as an outpatient

1 to 2 points: Admitted to the hospital

≥3 points: ICU admission


Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Score-0: The drug of choice is macrolides.

Azithromycin 500mg OD

or

Clarithromycin 500mg BD

or

Doxycycline 100mg BD.


Score 1: Treated with azithromycin 500mg OD+ ceftriaxone 2gm OD

Respiratory quinolones (Levofloxacin) are not preferred.

Score >2: Azithromycin 500mg OD+ Ceftriaxone 2gm IV OD and specific management.


NOTE: In a modified version of the CURB-65, the criteria of blood urea nitrogen has been removed. This elimination removes the need for lab testing.

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