British Thoracic Society welcomes the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) report on reviewing the care provided to adults presenting to hospital with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia

The British Thoracic Society (BTS) welcomes the publication of the new NCEPOD report on the care provided to adults presenting to hospital with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an infectious disease very prominent in our communities. It has a high rate of hospital admittance, as well as a high mortality rate, especially for more vulnerable people and those managing other co-morbidities. It is generally understood that the negative impact from CAP is avoidable and can be minimised.

The study, which is the focus of this report, was proposed in 2019 by BTS and the Intensive Care Society (ICS) to explore the perceived absence of a standardised approach to care. It investigated the quality of care provided to patients with CAP in the UK, focusing on areas such as accurate diagnosis, clinical decision making, antibiotic management, patient follow-up and the organisation of services.

It provides recommendations that were formed from a range of UK-specific guidelines that already exist in this area, with the intention that these recommendations are used widely across the UK health sector, including in respiratory services, to improve the care provided to those with CAP.

The report is available to read here [link].

The current BTS resources on the management of community acquired pneumonia, including the Guideline used in informing this report, are available here.