Question

A 67-year-old man is admitted with community-acquired pneumonia. On the ward his NEWS2 score is 7 (respiratory rate 28/min, oxygen saturation 89% on air, systolic BP 88/52 mmHg, heart rate 118 bpm, temperature 38.7°C, new confusion). A venous blood gas is being processed. What is the most appropriate immediate management step?

Accepted Answer

Escalate urgently to the critical care team and commence the Sepsis Six bundle including intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Answer

Request an urgent CT pulmonary angiogram to exclude pulmonary embolism.

Answer

Increase observation frequency to hourly while awaiting the lactate result.

Answer

Prescribe oral Amoxicillin and arrange chest physiotherapy on the ward.

Answer

Start prophylactic low molecular weight heparin and repeat the NEWS2 score in 4 hours.

Practice question