Pneumonia

Inclusion Criteria

- Hospitalized non-ICU patients (age, >= 18 years)
 - Clinical signs and symptoms of CAP, with PSI score IV or V
 - Radiologically confirmed evidence of a new and/or progressive infiltrate(s)
 - Requirement for initial parenteral therapy
 - At least 2 of the following conditions:
 -- Productive or non productive cough with or without purulent or mucosus or mucopurulent sputum
 -- Dyspnea and/or tachypnea (respiratory rate of > 20 breaths/min)
 -- Rigors and/or chills
 -- Pleuritic chest pain
 -- Auscultatory findings of rales and/or crackles on pulmonary examination and/or evidence of pulmonary consolidation
 -- Fever (an oral temperature of >= 38 °C, a rectal temperature of >= 39 °C, or a tympanic temperature of >= 38.5 °C) or hypothermia (rectal or core temperature of < 35 °C), and a WBC count of >= 10,000 cells/mm3 or >= 15% immature neutrophils bands; regardless of peripheral WBC count) or leukopenia (total WBC count of < 4500 cells/mm3)
 - Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

- PSI Class I-III and V with need for ICU admission
 - Hospitalization for > 48 hours before developing pneumonia, or discharge from hospital < 30 days prior. Note: patients currently residing in residential long-term facilities can be enrolled in the study