Overview
Create a clinical diagnostic pathway for older ED adults with pneumonia and its subgroups (bacterial, viral, and co-infection) and determine whether novel biomarkers improve diagnostic accuracy. The investigators will conduct a prospective observational trial of 250 ED patients ≥65 years old with suspected pneumonia. The investigators will perform analyses overall and by subgroups, seeking common models to ease adoption.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adults aged 65 and older presenting to the ED with suspected pneumonia defined as (1) either a physician order for CXR OR CT OR a chief complaint consistent with dyspnea; AND (2) physician suspicion of pneumonia prior to ED testing (score of 2-5 on Likert scale)
Exclusion Criteria:
- inability to obtain consent from the patient or an LAR
- active cancer
- organ transplant
- immunosuppression
- trauma activation
- suicidal ideation
- incarceration
- antibiotics in the last 14 days
- a separate episode of lower respiratory illness in the last 30 days