Is the present definition of health care-associated pneumonia the best way to define risk of infection with antibiotic-resistant pathogens?

Vanessa Yap; Debapriya Datta; Mark L Metersky

doi:10.1016/j.idc.2012.11.002

Is the present definition of health care-associated pneumonia the best way to define risk of infection with antibiotic-resistant pathogens?

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2013 Mar;27(1):1-18. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2012.11.002. Epub 2012 Dec 25.

Authors

Vanessa Yap¹, Debapriya Datta, Mark L Metersky

Affiliation

¹ Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030-1321, USA.

PMID: 23398862
DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2012.11.002

Abstract

Health care-associated pneumonia (HCAP) is associated with an increased risk of infection with multidrug-resistant pathogens compared with community-acquired pneumonia. Recent studies suggest that the designation of HCAP is a poor predictor of resistant pathogens and that antibiotic coverage for multidrug-resistant pathogens is not necessary in all patients with HCAP. This article reviews existing literature on HCAP, discusses the utility of the current definition of HCAP in identifying patients at risk for potentially drug-resistant pathogens, and compares how well the current HCAP designation predicts the risk of drug-resistant pathogens with other proposed algorithms for doing so.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
Community-Acquired Infections / diagnosis
Community-Acquired Infections / drug therapy
Cross Infection / diagnosis
Cross Infection / drug therapy*
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial*
Humans
Pneumonia, Bacterial / diagnosis
Pneumonia, Bacterial / drug therapy*
Risk Factors

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents