[Treatment of severe pneumonia--community-acquired and "early onset" nosocomial].
BACKGROUND
Pneumonia in hospitalized patients-community-acquired (CAP) or nosocomial (NAP)-remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Because of the substantial mortality, particularly among the elderly or in patients with specific underlying diseases, it is essential that initial antimicrobial therapy covers the most likely causative organism(s).


METHODS
Elderly patients are prone to be colonized with enteric gramnegative rods, especially patients with immunosuppression, prolonged hospital stay, and concomitant medical illnesses. An increasing incidence of gramnegative rod pneumonia and polymicrobial pneumonia including anaerobic bacteria due to aspiration is observed in community-, nursing home- and hospital-acquired lower respiratory tract infections. The spectrum of causative pathogens in elderly CAP patients with underlying diseases is similar to the spectrum in patients with hospital-acquired nosocomial pneumonia "early onset" (before day 5 of hospitalization).


CONCLUSIONS
Several retrospective studies have shown the importance of the early, adequate initial empirical antibiotic treatment for a favorable clinical outcome and initial adequate and/or effective antimicrobial therapy initiated before definitive etiologic diagnosis is associated with an improved outcome. In addition to the expected pathogens and patient-specific risk factors, the local resistance pattern has to be considered. Especially in elderly patients with underlying diseases, concomitant medication is often mandatory; therefore, initial antimicrobial treatment should also have to take the risk of potential interactions and contraindications into account.
Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden. hoeffken@med.uni-klinikum.de
Gert
G
Höffken
Michael
M
Halank
Adrian
A
Gillissen
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents