CRB-65 Score for Community-Acquired Pneumonia
CRB-65 score assesses severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in primary care or ED settings (no blood tests required). Guides hospital admission decisions.
Score interpretation
→ CRB-65 = 0: Low risk (mortality <1%). Treat in community with oral antibiotics (amoxicillin 500 mg TDS or doxycycline). Review in 24–48 hours; admit if no improvement.
→ CRB-65 1–2: Increased risk (mortality 1–10%). Hospital assessment strongly recommended; consider admission especially if SpO₂ <94%, unable to maintain oral intake, or no social support.
→ CRB-65 3–4: High risk (mortality >15%). Hospital admission required; IV antibiotics (co-amoxiclav + clarithromycin); ICU if septic shock, SpO₂ <90%, or CURB-65 ≥4. Blood cultures, urine antigen, and CRP.
Interpretation bands for the CRB-65. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
- Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI/PORT) · Pneumonia
- CRB-65 Score for Community Pneumonia · Pneumonia
- SMART-COP Score for Pneumonia Severity · Pneumonia
- CURB-65 Score for Community-Acquired Pneumonia · Pneumonia
- MuLBSTA Score for Viral Pneumonia Mortality · Pneumonia
- DRIP Score for Drug-Resistant Pneumonia · Pneumonia
- Lefamulin · Pleuromutilin Antibiotic (Community-Acquired Pneumonia)
- Ceftriaxone (Paediatric) · Third-Generation Cephalosporin — Meningitis / Sepsis / Community-Acquired Pneumonia
- Amoxicillin · Antibiotic — Community-Acquired Pneumonia
- Obeticholic Acid · FXR Agonist (Primary Biliary Cholangitis)
- Caplacizumab · Anti-vWF Nanobody — Acquired TTP
- Ertapenem · Carbapenem — ESBL / Complicated Intra-Abdominal / Community OPAT
- Acute Asthma in Adults · BTS/SIGN British Guideline on Asthma 2019; NICE NG80
- Pulmonary Embolism Assessment · NICE NG158; ESC 2019 PE Guidelines
- Acute Exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) · NICE NG115; GOLD 2024
- Spontaneous Pneumothorax (Adult) · BTS Pleural Disease 2023
- Atypical Pneumonia (Legionella / Mycoplasma / Chlamydophila) · BTS 2023; IDSA
- COPD Exacerbation Management · NICE NG115 / GOLD 2024
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.