Question:

What does "community-based" pneumonia mean exactly?

Answer provided by:

Mark H. Katz, M.D.
Regional HIV/AIDS Physician Coordinator
Kaiser Permanente of Southern California

Community-based pneumonia, is often referred to as "community-acquired" pneumonia, or CAP. It simply refers to the fact that the germs in the everyday environment which can cause pneumonia are not always the same as those which crop up in patients who are in hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical/health care institutions. Hospital-acquired penumonias are generally more serious than CAP. The treatment for CAP might then be milder than that for pneumonia in the already ill patient.

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