title: Retrospective analysis of risk factors and prognosis in non-ventilated patients with nosocomial pneumonia.
abstract: Although nosocomial pneumonia in non-ventilated patients continues to be frequent and have high mortality rates, knowledge of the associated risk and prognostic factors is still limited. This retrospective study was designed to analyze epidemiological characteristics, risk and prognostic factors in patients with nosocomial pneumonia admitted to a hospital internal medicine department. Data on epidemiological, clinical and microbiological factors as well as diagnosis and clinical course were obtained from the medical records of 104 patients diagnosed with nosocomial pneumonia, according to Centers for Disease Control criteria, and from 104 control subjects. The incidence of nosocomial pneumonia was 18.8 per 1000 admissions. Risk factors significantly associated with contracting the disease were female sex, hospital stay longer than 14 days, other admission in the previous month and use of antibiotics during the previous six weeks. The most frequent underlying diseases were cardiorespiratory in nature (59.4%). Prognostic factors significantly associated with increased mortality were serious underlying disease, initially critical clinical status, severe and moderate respiratory insufficiency and bilateral radiological signs. More epidemiological data are needed to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of nosocomial pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Service, Virgen de Arrixaca University Hospital, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esquinas
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Agudo
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sánchez Nieto
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baños
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canteras
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valdes
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents