Question

A 72-year-old woman from a rural community presents with fever, productive cough, and pleuritic chest pain. Oxygen saturation is 88 percent on room air. Chest radiograph shows right lower lobe consolidation. She lives more than 3 hours from the nearest hospital with limited ambulance availability. According to Canadian pneumonia guidance, what is the most appropriate management decision?

Accepted Answer

Admit to the local hospital or arrange urgent transfer for intravenous antibiotics and oxygen

Answer

Discharge with oral antibiotics and telephone follow-up

Answer

Treat with oral antibiotics and arrange review in 1 week

Answer

Delay antibiotics until sputum culture results are available

Answer

Manage at home with symptomatic treatment only

Practice question