Bacterial versus viral infection
In their worst manifestations, bacterial infections usually present with sepsis, including renal failure and hypotension.
In a viral infection, on the other hand, patients develop a pneumonitis and that manifests as oxygenation failure.
For this reason, the CURB-65 score or the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) are not used to score patients with COVID-19, and measures of oxygenation failure should be used instead.
Bacterial versus viral infection
In their worst manifestations, bacterial infections usually present with sepsis, including renal failure and hypotension.
In a viral infection, on the other hand, patients develop a pneumonitis and that manifests as oxygenation failure.
For this reason, the CURB-65 score or the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) are not used to score patients with COVID-19, and measures of oxygenation failure should be used instead.
