[Clinical and etiological features of community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to know the clinical and etiologic features of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in elderly patients requiring hospital admission.


METHODS
A prospective study of 36 consecutive patients aged over 70 years, admitted to a general hospital was performed. Standard analytical determinations, blood cultures, and serologic studies were performed in all patients using invasive techniques: aspirative transthoracic puncture (ATP) with ultrafine needle in 35 (97%) cases, and telescopic catheter (TC) in 1 case.


RESULTS
The mean age was 79 years (range: 71-90). Twenty-two patients had received antibiotic treatment prior to admission (61%) and 17 (47%) presented chronic debilitating diseases. The clinical characteristics of CAP were "typical" with acute presentation in most. Fifteen cases (42%) were etiologically diagnosed and the most frequently isolated agents were Streptococcus pneumoniae (22%) and Haemophilus influenzae (8%). Empiric treatment was changed on the basis of isolations in 7 cases (19%). Eight patients died (22%).


CONCLUSIONS
According to our results community-acquired pneumonia in the population studied: 1) generally showed an acute presentation with "typical" characteristics, carrying a high mortality rate (22%), 2) is of bacterial etiology, with S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae being the most frequently isolated microorganisms, 3) the use of ATP in community-acquired pneumonia offers a high diagnostic effectiveness, good tolerance and low risk of complications.
Llorente
J L
JL
Servicio de Neumología, Hospital de Cruces, Baracalco, Vizcaya.
Zalacaín
R
R
Gaztelurrutia
L
L
Talayero
N
N
Pérez
M
M
Badiola
C
C
Sobradillo
V
V
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D002443:Ceftriaxone
Características clínicas y etiológicas de la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en ancianos.