UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Infectious Disease

Title: HCAP ?

Keywords: health care associated pneumonia, antibiotics, (PubMed Search)

Posted: 9/16/2008 by Mike Winters, MD (Updated: 3/19/2024)
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Health care-associated pneumonia

  • Health care-associated pneumonia (HCAP) is a distinct entity
  • HCAP includes any patient with pneumonia and 1 or more of the following:
    • hospitalization for 2 or more days in an acute care facility within the preceeding 90 days
    • nursing home patients
    • patients of long-term care facilities
    • patients who attend a hospital or hemodialysis clinic
    • patients who received IV antibiotics, chemotherapy, or wound care within 30 days of infection
  • Data indicate that the mortality for HCAP is higher than CAP
  • The most common organisms in HCAP include S.aureus, P.aeruginosa, Klebsiella species, Haemophilus species, and Escherichia species
  • An initial recommended antibiotic regimen includes a combination of an antipseudomonal cephalosporin plus a fluoroquinolone plus an agent active against MRSA

References

Abrahamian FM, DeBlieux PM, Emerman CL, et al. Health care-associated pneumonia: identification and initial management in the ED. Am J Emerg Med 2008;26:1-11.