Chest X-Ray for Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)
Patients with suspected CAP can usually be diagnosed and managed on the basis of their clinical presentation. POAC funds CXR in CAP when it is required acutely to avoid hospital admission or to change immediate management. IV therapy is NOT recommended for treatment of CAP in the community. CXR does not assist with making a decision to give IV antibiotics as this decision is based on clinical presentation.
In most cases, the CXR is not needed immediately and should be requested using Access to Diagnostics or by referral to the local DHB radiology department, or by use of private funding.
Patients with CAP may require CXR at some point in the course of their illness e.g. where:
Greenlane (09) 638 0418
Middlemore (09) 276 0044 ext 2842
Waitakere Hospital (09) 486 8920 ext 6720
North Shore Hospital (09) 486 8920 ext 2769
Follow up CXR for CAP is not routinely required unless there are risk factors or red flags, including:
Follow up investigations are not POAC funded.
Download the full document here
In most cases, the CXR is not needed immediately and should be requested using Access to Diagnostics or by referral to the local DHB radiology department, or by use of private funding.
Patients with CAP may require CXR at some point in the course of their illness e.g. where:
- The diagnosis is uncertain
- The patient has comorbidities e.g. LVF, COPD
- The patient is >65yo and is presenting with non-specific symptoms and absent chest signs but with suspicion of pneumonia
- There is increased risk of underlying pathology e.g. lung cancer
- The patient is not responding to treatment
Greenlane (09) 638 0418
Middlemore (09) 276 0044 ext 2842
Waitakere Hospital (09) 486 8920 ext 6720
North Shore Hospital (09) 486 8920 ext 2769
Follow up CXR for CAP is not routinely required unless there are risk factors or red flags, including:
- >50 years of age
- Significant smoking history
- Suspicious radiologic findings on initial CXR
- Incomplete clinical resolution at six weeks
Follow up investigations are not POAC funded.
Download the full document here