title: Prevalence of lower respiratory tract infections in hospitalized patients in the United Kingdom and Eire--results from the Second National Prevalence Survey.
abstract: During 1993 and 1994, the Hospital Infection Society conducted its Second National Prevalence Survey of infections in patients in British hospitals. The prevalence rates for hospital-acquired (HA) and community-acquired (CA), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) were 2.4% and 6.1%, respectively; this shows an increase over that reported in the First National Prevalence Study. The prevalence rate of HA infections for ventilated patients was 18.6%. The prevalence was greater in males, odds ratio (OR, 95% CI) for HA-LRTIs (1.4, 1.1-1.6) and CA-LRTIs (1.2, 1.1-1.3) than in females. In the case of both HA-LRTIs and CA-LRTIs, there was an increase in prevalence in patients with age >75 years, (HA-LRTIs 1.7, 1.3-2.2; CA-LRTIs 1.7, 1.0-2.7). Results of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed an increased risk of HA-LRTIs in patients who had a nasogastric tube (3.6, 2.3-3.6), were ventilated (2.3, 1.6-3.2), trauma patients (2.2, 1.5-3.0), chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD), (1.9, 1.5-2.3), a tracheostomy (1.9, 1.3-2.7), prior blood transfusion (1.5, 1.2-1.8), smokers (1.4, 1.1-1.6) or on systemic corticosteroid therapy (OR 1.3, 1.1-1.6). Community-acquired LRTIs were positively associated with cystic fibrosis (33.7, 19.1-59.3), HIV (9.8, 6.5-14.8), COAD (4.8, 3.8-4.8), systemic corticosteroid therapy (2.5, 2.2-2.8), tracheostomy (1.8, 1.1-2.9), males (1.2, 1.1-1.3) and smoking (1.2, 1.1-1.4).
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Whittington Hospital, Highgate Hill, London, N19 5NF, UK.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kelsey
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Emmerson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology