PURPOSE: The emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogens poses a significant threat to patients with nosocomial pneumonia. It is therefore important to evaluate the relationship between hospital-acquired pathogens and antibiotic resistance.
METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 100 consecutive patients with hospital-acquired infections admitted to the intensive care unit of which 46% had clinical, laboratory, and radiological evidence of nosocomial pneumonia.
RESULTS: Isolated pathogens consisted of Klebsiella spp. (29%), Pseudomonas spp. (16%), Acinetobacter spp. (13%), Staphylococcus aureus (11%), Escherichia coli (10%), Enterobacter spp. (9%), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (2%), and Candida spp. (9%). Details of antibiotic resistance are shown in Table 1. Mortality was 33% in patients with nosocomial pneumonia.
CONCLUSION: Antibiotic resistance in hospital-acquired pathogens is significant.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Patients with nosocomial pneumonia remain at risk from antibiotic resistant pathogens.
DISCLOSURE: Prashant Borade, None.
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Prashant S. Borade MD * Daniel K. Lee MD Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ipswich Hospital, Ipswich, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom
COPYRIGHT 2005 American College of Chest Physicians
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group