Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein might determine the severity and the presences of major/minor criteria for severe community-acquired pneumonia and best predicted mortality

Table 1 Stratified IDSA/ATS major/minor criteria for severe CAP

Characteristic
Major criteria
Invasive mechanical ventilation
Septic shock with the need for vasopressors
Minor criteria
High risk categories (the most predictive minor criteria)	PaO₂/FiO₂ ≤ 250 mmHg
	Confusion/disorientation
	Uremia (BUN level, ≥ 20 mg/dL)
Low risk categories	Respiratory rate ≥ 30 breaths/min
	Multilobar infiltrates
	Leukopenia (WBC count, < 4000 cells/mm3)
	Thrombocytopenia (platelet count, < 100,000 cells/mm3)
	Hypothermia (core temperature, < 36 °C)
	Hypotension requiring aggressive fluid resuscitation

Stratified IDSA/ATS major/minor criteria defined severe CAP as what the original criteria did, but the patients fulfilling the high risk categories might present more severity and higher mortality compared with those meeting the low risk categories. On the basis of the presences of major criteria and most predictive minor criteria, severe CAP patients consisted of those meeting one or two of the major criteria, three of the most predictive minor criteria, two of the most predictive minor criteria, one of the most predictive minor criteria and none of the most predictive minor criteria, respectively, and non-severe CAP patients incorporated those fulfilling two of the most predictive minor criteria, one of the most predictive minor criteria and none of the most predictive minor criteria, respectively
IDSA/ATS The Infectious Disease Society of America and the American Thoracic Society, CAP community-acquired pneumonia, PaO₂/FiO₂ Arterial oxygen pressure/fraction inspired oxygen, BUN Blood urine nitrogen, WBC White blood cell

ISSN: 1465-993X