Non-ventilator associated hospital acquired pneumonia incidence and health outcomes among U.S. veterans from 2016-2020

Am J Infect Control. 2022 Jan;50(1):116-119. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.06.001. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Abstract

Among 1,635,711 Veteran acute care admissions (FY2016-2020), the risk of non-ventilator associated hospital acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) was 1.26 cases per 1,000 hospitalized days and decreased linearly over time with an uptick in cases in the last year coinciding with the onset of the covid-19 pandemic. Veterans who develop NV-HAP experience remarkably higher 30-day and 1-year mortality, longer length of stay, and higher rates of inpatient sepsis. Monitoring and prevention measures may substantially reduce negative outcomes.

Keywords: Hospital acquired infection; Inpatient sepsis; Mortality; Non-device related pneumonia; Non-ventilator associated hospital acquired pneumonia; Veterans.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Cross Infection*
  • Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia* / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia* / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated*
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Veterans*