Utility of community-acquired pneumonia severity scores in guiding disposition from the emergency department: Intensive care or short-stay unit?

Community-acquired pneumonia severity scores had different strengths; SMARTCOP and CURXO were sensitive with potential to rule out severe disease, while the high specificity of CORB and CURB-65 facilitated identification of patients at high risk of requirement for ICU. Low severity scores were not useful to identify patients suitable for admission to short-stay units.