A 65-year-old male presents with a productive cough, high-grade fever, and dyspnea. He also reports malaise and anorexia. On physical examination, there is decreased breath sound and dullness to percussion on the lower right side of the chest. What is your diagnosis and next steps?
Given the symptoms, the age of the patient, and the physical exam findings, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a likely diagnosis. To confirm, a chest X-ray should be ordered to look for consolidations in the lung fields. Blood tests including complete blood count, blood cultures, and inflammatory markers should be ordered. Antibiotics should be initiated based on local guidelines and the severity of the patient's symptoms.