Hospital Acquired Pneumonia

Pneumonia consists of inflammation of the pulmonary parenchyma, typically resulting from a microbial infection. Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) occurs in (typically elderly) patients in long-term care facilities, with regular IV therapy, with immunosuppression, or with a history of recent treatment at a hospital. It is associated with high mortality. The majority HAP patients present with some constellation of cough, fever, sputum production, and pleuritic chest pain. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis are at increased risk for pneumonia. The Infectious Disease Society of America requires infiltrates on chest x-ray or other imaging for the diagnosis of pneumonia. For hospitalized patients, empiric antimicrobial therapy for HAP should be given as soon as pneumonia is highly suspected. There is currently a vaccine available against Streptococcus pneumonia that all patients should be offered before discharge from the hospital. The elderly are already more susceptible to HAP due to decreased mobility and increased comorbidities.