2 Days Of Productive in Medicine / Internal Medicine — 30yo Man | Respiratory / Pulmonology | SMLE Q#11732
SMLE Question #11732
Medicine / Internal Medicine
Respiratory / Pulmonology
Objective: OBJ-123
Last updated: February 2026
A 30-year-old man presents with 2 days of productive cough, fever, and pleuritic right-sided chest pain. Examination shows bronchial breath sounds and inspiratory crackles over the right lower zone. Chest X-ray with lateral decubitus view shows right lower lobe consolidation and a free-flowing right pleural effusion layering 25 mm. He has received the first dose of empiric IV antibiotics for presumed community-acquired pneumonia. What is the most appropriate next step in management?
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