title: [Pneumonia in alcoholic patients: the clinical and etiological characteristics].
abstract: Twenty-four alcoholic patients with community-acquired pneumonia were studied for 2 years in order to define clinical signs and etiology. Blood cultures and serological profiles were done for all patients in addition to standard blood analyses. All had an invasive procedure -transthoracic puncture with an ultrafine 25G needle (20 patients) or telescopic catheter with bacteriologic brush (4 patients). When we were unable to obtain a good sputum sample (5 patients), a culture was grown. The patients' mean age was 48 and 83% had an acute clinical profile (< or = 7 days with symptoms) with "typical" signs. The X-rays showed an alveolar pattern in all patients, with cavitation in 29%. Etiological diagnosis was reached in 17 (71%) cases, with St. Pneumoniae (25%), anaerobic microorganisms (20%) and C. burnetii (12.5%) being the germs found most frequently. The invasive techniques were more useful (54%) than the blood cultures (17%) or sputum cultures (4%), and they were well tolerated and uncomplicated. Empirical antibiotic treatment was modified for 12 patients (50%). Seventeen percent required intensive care treatment and mortality was 12.5%.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital de Cruces, Vizcaya.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Llorente
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zalacaín
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gaztelurrutia
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Talayero
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Antoñana
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sobradillo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002981:Clindamycin; D002443:Ceftriaxone
vernacular_title: Neumonía en pacientes alcohólicos: características clínicas y etiológicas.