Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) Practice Exam

What CURB-65 score generally indicates home treatment?

1. 0-1

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

The correct answer is: 0-1

A CURB-65 score of 0-1 generally indicates that a patient can be treated safely at home for pneumonia. The CURB-65 criteria assess the severity of pneumonia to help guide treatment decisions. Each letter in CURB-65 corresponds to a clinical factor: - C: Confusion (new onset) - U: Urea > 7 mmol/L - R: Respiratory rate ≥ 30 breaths/min - B: Blood pressure (systolic < 90 mmHg or diastolic ≤ 60 mmHg) - 65: Age ≥ 65 years A score of 0-1 suggests that the patient is at low risk for adverse outcomes, meaning their likelihood of complications or mortality due to pneumonia is lower compared to higher scores. Typically, patients with scores of 2 or more may require hospitalization as they are at increased risk and may benefit from a more intensive level of care. This systematic approach ensures that healthcare providers identify the proper course of action based on the patient's clinical status.