Clinical, Radiological and Etiological Profile of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in a Tertiary Care Center

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major global cause of illness and death, especially in developing countries. It presents with symptoms such as fever, productive cough, breathlessness, chest pain, and systemic features, with severity ranging from mild disease to life-threatening illness. Radiologically, chest X-ray commonly shows lobar consolidation, bronchopneumonia, or interstitial infiltrates, while HRCT is useful in atypical or complicated cases. Etiologically, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common pathogen, though atypical bacteria, viral agents, gram-negative bacilli, and Staphylococcus aureus are increasingly recognized, particularly in severe cases. Clinical, radiological, and etiological profiling in tertiary care settings is essential for accurate diagnosis, appropriate empirical therapy, and improved patient outcomes.