Mortality in ICU patients with bacterial community-acquired pneumonia: when antibiotics are not enough.
BACKGROUND
It remains uncertain why immunocompetent patients with bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) die, in spite of adequate antibiotics.


METHODS
This is a secondary analysis of the CAPUCI database which was a prospective observational multicentre study. Two hundred and twelve immunocompetent patients admitted to 33 Spanish ICUs for CAP were analyzed. Comparisons were made for lifestyle risk factors, comorbidities and severity of illness. ICU mortality was the principal outcome variable.


RESULTS
Bacteremic CAP (43.3 vs. 21.1%) and empyema (11.5 vs. 2.2%) were more frequent (P < 0.05) in patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae CAP. Higher rates of adequate empiric therapy (95.8 vs. 75.5%, P < 0.05) were observed in patients with S. pneumoniae CAP. Patients with non-pneumococcal CAP experienced more shock (66.7 vs. 50.8%, P < 0.05), and need for mechanical ventilation (83.3 vs. 61.5%, P < 0.05). ICU mortality was 20.7 and 28% [OR 1.49(0.74-2.98)] among immunocompetent patients with S. pneumoniae (n = 122) and non-pneumococci (n = 90), in spite of initial adequate antibiotic. Multivariable regression analysis in these 184 immunocompetent patients with adequate empirical antibiotic treatment identified the following variables as independently associated with mortality: shock (HR 13.03); acute renal failure (HR 4.79), and APACHE II score higher than 24 (HR 2.22).


CONCLUSIONS
Mortality remains unacceptably high in immunocompetent patients admitted to the ICU with bacterial pneumonia, despite adequate initial antibiotics and comorbidities management. Patients with shock, acute renal failure and APACHE II score higher than 24 should be considered for inclusion in trials of adjunctive therapy in order to improve CAP survival.
Rodriguez
Alejandro
A
Critical Care Department, Pere Virgili Health Institut and CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, Joan XXIII University Hospital, Tarragona, Spain.
Lisboa
Thiago
T
Blot
Stijn
S
Martin-Loeches
Ignacio
I
Solé-Violan
Jorge
J
De Mendoza
Diego
D
Rello
Jordi
J
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D004653:Empyema / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006440:Hemofiltration / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents