PMID: 8584866Jan 1, 1995Paper

Community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalisation. Factors of importance for the short-and long term prognosis

Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases. Supplementum
J Hedlund

Abstract

In 277 patients admitted to hospital for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) an aetiologic diagnosis was established in 68% with S. pneumoniae being the predominating agent. Four percent of the patients (12/277) died during their hospital stay, and only one of these patients was below 60 years of age. On admission, the most important factor, independently associated with fatal disease was a low serum albumin concentration, which was also a negative prognostic factor for the course of the survivors. In patients admitted to hospital for CAP, the finding of a low serum albumin level should therefore lead to intensified observation and treatment. Of 241 patients discharged after treatment for CAP, 50 patients were readmitted to hospital with recurrence of pneumonia during a 31 month follow-up period. This pneumonia incidence rate was more than five times that in a control population. Fifty-one of the patients (21%) died during follow-up, with 13 (25%) of the deaths directly associated with pneumonia. Systemic treatment with corticosteroids was associated with a higher risk of recurrence of pneumonia and death, while airway colonisation with Gram-negative enteric bacteria and a serum albumin below 30 g/l during hospital treatment of ...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bacterial Pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia is a prevalent and costly infection that is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients of all ages. Here is the latest research.

Bacterial Pneumonia (ASM)

Bacterial pneumonia is a prevalent and costly infection that is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients of all ages. Here is the latest research.