Defining Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia is classified as any pneumonia that occurs outside of a hospital setting. This definition has evolved, eliminating the previous categorization of healthcare-associated pneumonia. Typical symptoms of this condition include fever, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, cough, and sputum production. Diagnosis is often challenging, as definitive identification of the causative agent occurs in less than half of cases, leading to an emphasis on empirical treatment based on clinical judgment.