Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) Practice Exam

What does the C in the CURB-65 criteria stand for?

1. Capillary Glucose

2. Confusion

3. Cardiac output

4. Cholesterol levels

The correct answer is: Confusion

The C in the CURB-65 criteria stands for Confusion. CURB-65 is a clinical tool used to assess the severity of pneumonia and guide treatment decisions. This tool incorporates five clinical criteria: Confusion, Urea level, Respiratory rate, Blood pressure, and age 65 or older. Confusion as a criterion is significant because it indicates a potential decline in cognitive function or overall health status, which can negatively affect a patient’s ability to manage their illness. In this context, confusion typically refers to either an acute change in mental status or a score that indicates cognitive impairment, such as those assessed by simple mental status examinations. High levels of confusion can indicate a more severe disease process and suggest that the patient may require hospitalization for further treatment and monitoring. The presence of confusion in CURB-65 highlights the importance of mental status in the assessment of illness severity, particularly in patients with pneumonia, ensuring that healthcare providers can recognize patients who may need more intensive care.