1st April 2022

A 75-year-old man with established Alzheimer’s disease is brought into the emergency department

A 75-year-old man with established Alzheimer’s disease is brought into the emergency department by his daughter after becoming more confused and leaving their home in the middle of the night. He has a 4-day history of cough and has had a temperature fluctuating around 38°C. On assessment in the emergency department, he has an abbreviated mental test score of 6 out of 10. His vital signs are: Heart Rate 96, Respiratory Rate 24, Temperature 38.2°C, BP 138/66, O₂ sats 94%. Blood tests reveal a neutrophilia, a raised CRP and a urea of 4 mmol/L. Chest X ray reveals consolidation in the left lower lobe. The patient has no known allergies.

Based on the likely causative organism, which of the following is the most appropriate management for this patient?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.