56-year-old Man in Medicine / Internal Medicine — 56yo Man | Respiratory / Pulmonology | SMLE Q#17858
SMLE Question #17858
Medicine / Internal Medicine
Respiratory / Pulmonology
Objective: OBJ-POSTOP-HAP-001
Last updated: February 2026
A 56-year-old man is on the surgical ward after an elective open colectomy. On postoperative day 4, he develops fever, mild shortness of breath, productive cough, and pleuritic chest discomfort. Lung examination reveals bilateral coarse crackles. Chest X-ray shows bilateral patchy infiltrates without pleural effusion. What is the most appropriate initial management?
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