Home management of mild to moderately severe community-acquired pneumonia: a randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether community management of mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is as effective and acceptable as standard hospital management of CAP.


METHODS
Randomised controlled trial.


METHODS
Christchurch, New Zealand, primary and secondary care.


METHODS
55 patients presenting or referred to the emergency department at Christchurch Hospital with mild to moderately severe pneumonia, assessed using a validated pneumonia severity assessment score, from July 2002 to October 2003.


METHODS
Hospital treatment as usual or comprehensive care in the home delivered by primary care teams.


METHODS
Primary: days to discharge, days on intravenous (IV) antibiotics, patient-rated symptom scores. Secondary: health status measured using level of functioning at 2 and 6 weeks, patient satisfaction.


RESULTS
The median number of days to discharge was higher in the home care group (4 days; range, 1-14) than in the hospital groups (2 days; range, 0-10; P = 0.004). There was no difference in the number of days on IV antibiotics or on subsequent oral antibiotics. Patient-rated symptom scores at 2 and 6 weeks, median change in symptom severity from baseline to 6 weeks, and general functioning at 2 and 6 weeks did not differ between the groups. Patients in both groups were satisfied with their treatment, with a clear preference for community treatment (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Mild to moderately severe CAP can be managed effectively in the community by primary care teams. This model of comprehensive care at home can be implemented by primary care teams with suitable funding structures.
Richards
Dee A
DA
Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand. derelie.richards@chmeds.ac.nz
Toop
Les J
LJ
Epton
Michael J
MJ
McGeoch
Graham R B
GR
Town
G Ian
GI
Wynn-Thomas
Simon M H
SM
Dawson
Robin D
RD
Hlavac
Michael C
MC
Werno
Anja M
AM
Abernethy
Paul D
PD
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000451:nursing; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009520:New Zealand; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000451:nursing*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000451:nursing; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000451:nursing; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents