title: Prevention strategies for healthcare-associated pneumonia.
abstract: Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) represents one of the largest subsets of patients with pneumonia. Based on epidemiological projections for the aging U.S. population, the number of hospitalizations for HCAP is expected to increase exponentially for the next several decades. The unique risk factors for colonization with resistant pathogens in these patients provide multiple opportunities for HCAP prevention. However, our current understanding of the most effective prevention measures is woefully inadequate and constitutes an extrapolation from studies done in community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonia patients. This review explores common prevention strategies that may be applicable to HCAP, highlights areas of controversy that require further study, and describes several areas of ongoing novel investigation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68131, USA. lmorrow@creighton.edu
authors.forename: Lee E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Morrow
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D044623:Nutrition Therapy / Q000379:methods; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000517:prevention & control; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors