Ms Fatimah

In this step, you will be introduced to Ms Fatimah’s case. This case will be used throughout the course to help you think about the real-world implications of the content and how you might apply this knowledge in your own healthcare setting.

Ms Fatimah is a 65 year old lady with a history of asthma who presented with three days of coughing and one day of low grade fever and shortness of breath. She recently came back from a trip to Makkah a week ago.

She said her daughter gave her some antibiotics she bought at a local pharmacy, but they were not prescribed or recommended by her local doctor.

She reports no allergies and no other comorbidities. Her temperature was 38.2C, respiratory rate: 22 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation 91% on room air. She had crackles on the left side of her chest exam. Her initial labs include: WBC 22,000 cells/mcL, Hgb 13.5 gm/dL, Plt 278,000/mcL. Creatinine of 1.1mg/dL, CRP 190 mg/L and ESR of 45. She was admitted to the hospital for a community acquired pneumonia of moderate risk and was started on parenteral antibiotics.

1. What would be your first choice of antibiotics for Ms Fatima?

2. Which diagnostic tests would you consider appropriate?

3. Do you have a local treatment strategy depending on the outcome of these tests?

Let us know your answers in the comments sections below.

Please note: Ms Fatimah and her case are both fictional. This is a public platform so please do not share any confidential information in the comments sections.