A number of studies suggest that mortality may be higher in patients in whom antibiotic therapy is delayed. In CAP patients aged > 65 years, significantly lower 30-day mortality was reported when appropriate antibiotic therapy was initiated within 8 hrs (21). Delays between admission and receiving antibiotics of > 6 hrs have been noted in younger people dying in hospital (22). Marrie (23) reported a New Zealand study of CAP in which significantly fewer people died when receiving antibiotic treatment prior to admission.