Considerations for Sputum and Blood Cultures in Pneumonia Patients

2007 Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society Criteria for Defining Severe Community-acquired Pneumonia

Validated definition includes either one major criterion or three or more minor criteria

• Minor criteria
  • Respiratory rate > 30 breaths/min PaO2/FIO2 ratio<250
    Multilobar infiltrates Confusion/disorientation
  • Uremia (blood urea nitrogen level > 20 mg/dl)
  • Leukopenia* (white blood cell count , 4,000 cells/ml)
  • Thrombocytopenia (platelet count , 100,000/ml)
  • Hypothermia (core temperature , 368 C) Hypotension requiring aggressive fluid
  • resuscitation
• Major criteria
  • Septic shock with need for vasopressors
  • Respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation

A special thanks to our Infectious Diseases Editor:

Angelica Cifuentes Kottkamp, MD
Infectious Diseases & Immunology
NYU School of Medicine