Epidemiology of Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia (HCAP)

Marya D. Zilberberg; Andrew F. Shorr

doi:10.1055/s-0028-1119804

Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Table of Contents

Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2009; 30(1): 010-015
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1119804

Epidemiology of Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia (HCAP)

Marya D. Zilberberg¹ ^, ² , Andrew F. Shorr³ ^, ⁴

¹Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
²EviMed Research Group, LLC, Goshen, Massachusetts
³Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC
⁴Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) represents a distinct syndrome, separate from both community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and nosocomial pneumonia. Although patients with HCAP present from the community, the epidemiology and bacteriology of HCAP belie the community label. As such, highly resistant pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are commonly seen in HCAP. Although the true prevalence of HCAP is unclear the proportion of pneumonias admitted to the hospital due to HCAP relative to CAP appears to be increasing. The attendant mortality of HCAP is higher than that reported in CAP and approximates that seen in hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). More precise instruments are needed to heighten clinicians' index of suspicion for treating probable resistant pathogens with appropriate empirical antibiotic choices.

KEYWORDS

Pneumonia - methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - health care–associated

Full Text

References

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Marya D ZilberbergM.D.

EviMed Research Group, LLC, P.O. Box 303

Goshen, MA 01032

Email: Marya@EviMedGroup.org