title: Changing needs of community-acquired pneumonia.
abstract: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a serious condition associated with significant morbidity and potential long-term mortality. Although the majority of patients with CAP are treated as outpatients, the greatest proportion of pneumonia-related mortality and healthcare expenditure occurs among the patients who are hospitalized. There has been considerable interest in determining risk factors and severity criteria assessments to assist with site-of-care decisions. For both inpatients and outpatients, the most common pathogens associated with CAP include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, group A streptococci and Moraxella catarrhalis. Atypical pathogens, Gram-negative bacilli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and viruses are also recognized aetiological agents of CAP. Despite the availability of antimicrobial therapies, the recent emergence of drug-resistant pneumococcal and staphylococcal isolates has limited the effectiveness of currently available agents. Because early and rapid initiation of empirical antimicrobial treatment is critical for achieving a favourable outcome in CAP, newer agents with activity against drug-resistant strains of S. pneumoniae and MRSA are needed for the management of patients with CAP.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA. j.ramirez@louisville.edu
authors.forename: Julio Alberto
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: Antonio R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Anzueto
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D014780:Viruses
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents