Asthma action plan (AAP) is an essential component of asthma education and self-management. AAPs provide patients with instructions on how to recognise loss of asthma control and the appropriate treatment steps. The use of AAP improves asthma-related quality of life and reduces the risk of asthma exacerbation. Despite its benefits, utilisation of AAP is disappointingly low both locally and worldwide. This review highlights the importance of AAP as part of an asthma care plan and provides practical information on the prescription of AAPs. We conclude by identifying possible barriers to AAP implementation and how these may be overcome.

Rationale: Acinetobacter radioresistens is a non-fermentative Gram-negative coccobacillus that is environmentally ubiquitous and is an uncommon cause of pneumonia in an immunocompetent patient with no known chronic medical illness. Patient concerns: A middle-aged Asian male with a smoking history presented with fever and cough. Physical examination was unremarkable. Chest imaging was consistent with pulmonary parenchymal infection and blood culture grew Acinetobacter radioresistens. Diagnosis: Community acquired pneumonia with Acinetobacter radioresistens bacteremia. Interventions: The patient received a combination of intravenous and oral ampicillin-sulbactam over 2 weeks. Outcomes: Repeat blood cultures showed resolution of bacteremia. Completion of antimicrobial treatment saw resolution of respiratory symptoms and radiological pneumonic changes. Lessons: Acinetobacter radioresistens causing community-acquired pneumonia in an immunocompetent host has never been described before. It may be a novel emerging infectious agent in pulmonary infections. Its clinical course in this immunocompetent patient appears to be relatively benign.