Evaluating the Use of Amoxicillin in Community-Acquired Pneumonia Patients With Low Confusion, Urea, Respiratory Rate, Blood Pressure, and Age ≥65 Years (CURB-65) Scores: A Retrospective Study

TL;DR

This study examines the effectiveness of amoxicillin for treating low-risk pneumonia patients, finding high discharge rates and low readmissions.

Contribution

The study provides real-world evidence supporting amoxicillin as a potential first-line treatment for low-risk CAP patients.

Findings

Amoxicillin showed an 86.95% discharge rate among low CURB-65 score patients.

Only 8.70% of amoxicillin-treated patients were readmitted, suggesting its efficacy.

Co-amoxiclav was the most prescribed antibiotic, used in 62.78% of cases.

Abstract

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, necessitating precise antibiotic strategies guided by severity assessment tools such as the confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age ≥65 years (CURB-65) score. This retrospective study evaluated initial antibiotic choices for patients with low CURB-65 scores (0 and 1) at Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, focusing on the role of amoxicillin in early-stage pneumonia management. Data from 400 patients across various hospital settings in 2023 were analyzed. Co-amoxiclav was the most prescribed antibiotic, used in 226 cases (62.78%), while amoxicillin was prescribed in 46 cases (12.78%). Despite the small sample size and lack of comorbidity adjustment, the study found a high discharge rate (40 patients, or 86.95%) and low readmission rate (four patients, or 8.70%) for patients initially treated with amoxicillin, supporting its potential as a first-line therapy for low-risk CAP. However, broader studies with more comprehensive data are needed to confirm these findings and refine clinical guidelines, including biomarker integration for more precise prescribing.