CRB-65 Score 🫁
CRB-65 severity score for community-acquired pneumonia. Confusion, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age ≥65 with HSE-aligned disposition guidance.
CRB65 Severity Score
HSE community CAP v2.0 — tick criteria present (each scores 1 point)
CRB65 score
0 / 4
LowNo criteria or prescribing factors ticked yet.
Suitable for home treatment if otherwise well (HSE)
Community oral antibiotics per HSE table. If no response after 48 hours on amoxicillin monotherapy, escalate as per CRB65 1–2 below or consider hospital referral.
HSE community regimen
Amoxicillin 500 mg every 8 hours for 5 days
HSE CRB65 0 — community monotherapy
Prescribing factors
Tailors HSE community oral regimens below. Inpatients still need local IV protocol.
Use clinical judgement — hypoxia, comorbidity, immunosuppression, and multilobar involvement may warrant admission despite a lower score. (CURB-65 adds urea ≥7 mmol/L; HSE Ireland uses CRB65.)
Why use it
- CRB-65 estimates CAP severity at the bedside (no urea required). Each criterion scores 1 point.
- Use clinical judgement alongside the score. Hypoxia, comorbidity, immunosuppression, or multilobar disease may alter disposition.
Interpretation (HSE CAP)
0
- Severity
- Low
- Typical disposition
- Consider community management if social circumstances allow.
1–2
- Severity
- Moderate
- Typical disposition
- Consider hospital assessment / short-stay admission.
3–4
- Severity
- Severe
- Typical disposition
- Urgent hospital admission; consider critical care review.
| Score | Severity | Typical disposition |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Low | Consider community management if social circumstances allow. |
| 1–2 | Moderate | Consider hospital assessment / short-stay admission. |
| 3–4 | Severe | Urgent hospital admission; consider critical care review. |
Related NICE guidance
Full guidance on nice.org.uk. BetterCall is not endorsed by NICE.
Educational reference only. Medical disclaimer