title: Antibiotic therapy of hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia: an international perspective from the CAPO Cohort Study.
abstract: The American Thoracic Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America have developed evidence-based guidelines for the therapy of hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). In an attempt to evaluate if the care provided to hospitalized patients with CAP is in compliance with the care recommended by national guidelines, an international network of investigators has been collecting data from 40 hospitals in 13 countries. The care provided in the following areas of antibiotic therapy was analyzed: empiric antibiotic therapy, timing of initial antibiotic therapy, and switch from intravenous to oral antibiotic therapy. Lack of compliance with national guidelines was identified in all areas of antibiotic therapy. Compliance at the local level can be improved with the implementation of a hospital-based pneumonia quality improvement team. Improving compliance with national guidelines recommendations will produce a beneficial effect in CAP clinical and economic outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peyrani
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: A Scott
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: LaJoie
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakamatsu
authors.forename: Forest
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Toala
authors.forename: Agustin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: Brittany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Dathan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chesnut
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De La Cruz
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carrico
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramirez
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents