Q. A 45-year-old male was admitted yesterday with a 3-day history of fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. The patient reported that he had been feeling unwell for a few days, with a fever that had reached as high as 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit. He also reported a persistent cough and shortness of breath, especially with physical activity. He denied any chest pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. He did not seek medical attention earlier because he thought it was just a common cold. The patient has a history of asthma, which is typically well-controlled with salbutamol and budesonide. He is a non-smoker and lives with his wife and two children. He works as a surveyor and spends most of his time outdoors. He reported no recent travel outside the country.
On physical examination today, he remains in moderate distress. His temperature is 38.2 degrees Celsius (100.9 degrees Fahrenheit), his blood pressure is 115/70 mm Hg, heart rate 110/min, and his respiratory rate is 28/min. Lung assessment demonstrates tachypnea, wheezing, and crackles in both lung fields. The rest of his physical exam is unremarkable. You review his morning blood work, which reveals a white blood cell count of 17,000/mm3 and an IgG level of 250 mg/dL, with a normal differential count. His electrolyte panel is unremarkable, and his chest X-ray shows bilateral patchy consolidations (see image).
Based on this patient’s history, physical assessment, and diagnostic studies, which of the following medications is most indicated at this time?