[Adult severe community-acquired pneumonia: from diagnosis to intensive care].

Severe community-acquired pneumonia is defined as a pneumonia acquired in an extra-hospital setting requiring intensive care. Clinical scores such as the ATS modified rule can help the clinician to recognize quickly the patients needing ICU. Evidence based interventions decreasing mortality consist of rapid administration of antibiotics, by probably privileging an association containing a macrolide, as well as fast and specialized care of shock and respiratory failure. Severe community-acquired pneumonia is burdened by a short and long-term important mortality.