CURB-65 Score for Community-Acquired Pneumonia
CURB-65 score predicts 30-day mortality in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Hospital-based version of CRB-65; requires blood urea measurement. Standard tool for CAP severity assessment.
Score interpretation
→ CURB-65 0–1: Low risk (30-day mortality <3%). Oral antibiotics as outpatient. Amoxicillin 500 mg TDS for 5 days (UK), or doxycycline if atypical features. Review in 48 hours.
→ CURB-65 2: Moderate risk (30-day mortality ~9%). Hospital admission recommended; IV antibiotics (co-amoxiclav + clarithromycin); blood cultures; CRP; SpO₂ monitoring; chest X-ray.
→ CURB-65 3–5: High risk (30-day mortality 15–40%). Urgent hospital admission; severe CAP protocol; IV antibiotics; ITU assessment if CURB-65 4–5; blood cultures; pneumococcal/legionella urinary antigen.
Interpretation bands for the CURB-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
- Caplacizumab · Anti-vWF Nanobody — Acquired TTP
- Ertapenem · Carbapenem — ESBL / Complicated Intra-Abdominal / Community OPAT
- Diazepam (Paediatric) · Benzodiazepine — Status Epilepticus / Febrile Convulsions (Community)
- 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.