Yellow Sputum in Medicine / Internal Medicine — 36yo Man | Respiratory / Pulmonology | SMLE Q#11576
SMLE Question #11576
Medicine / Internal Medicine
Respiratory / Pulmonology
Objective: OBJ-123
Last updated: February 2026
A 36-year-old man has 5 days of fever, productive cough with yellow sputum, worsening dyspnea, and right-sided pleuritic chest pain. Examination shows dullness to percussion, markedly reduced breath sounds, and decreased tactile fremitus over the lower right hemithorax. Chest radiograph shows right middle and lower lobe consolidation with a right pleural effusion occupying about half of the right hemithorax. He is started on empiric IV antibiotics for community-acquired pneumonia. What is the most appropriate next step in management?
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