. 2017 Dec 29;4(4):153–158. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpam.2017.12.002

Table 1.

Criteria to consider hospitalization for pediatric CAP^∗.

•
Hypoxemia (oxygen saturations <90% in room air)

•
Infants (3–6) months of age with suspected bacterial community-acquired pneumonia

•
Tachypnea:
- o
  Infants <12 months of age: respiratory rate >70 breaths per min
- o
  Children: respiratory rate >50 breaths per min

•
Respiratory distress: apnea, grunting, difficulty breathing, and poor feeding

•
Signs of dehydration or inability to maintain hydration or oral intake

•
Capillary refill time >2 s

•
Infants and children with toxic appearance
- o
  Suspected or confirmed to have infection with a virulent organism (community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or group A Streptococcus)

•
Underlying conditions/comorbidities that:
- o
  May predispose patients to a more serious course (e.g., cardiopulmonary disease, genetic syndromes, neurocognitive disorders, neuromuscular disorders)
- o
  May be worsened by pneumonia (e.g., metabolic disorder)
- o
  May adversely affect response to treatment (e.g., immunocompromised host, sickle cell disease)

•
Complications (e.g., effusion and/or empyema)

•
Failure of outpatient therapy (48–72 h with no clinical response)

•
Caretaker unable to provide appropriate observation or to comply with prescribed home therapy

^∗Adapted from Messinger AI, Kupfer O, Hurst A, Parker S. Management of Pediatric Community-acquired Bacterial Pneumonia. Pediatrics in review. 2017 Sep; 38(9):394 [8].