Risk factors of treatment failure in community acquired pneumonia: implications for disease outcome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

An inadequate response to initial empirical treatment of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) represents a challenge for clinicians and requires early identification and intervention. A study was undertaken to quantify the incidence of failure of empirical treatment in CAP, to identify risk factors for treatment failure, and to determine the implications of treatment failure on the outcome.

Methods

A prospective multicentre cohort study was performed in 1424 hospitalised patients from 15 hospitals. Early treatment failure (<72 hours), late treatment failure, and in-hospital mortality were recorded.

Results

Treatment failure occurred in 215 patients (15.1%): 134 early failure (62.3%) and 81 late failure (37.7%). The causes were infectious in 86 patients (40%),

SUBMITTER: Menendez R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1746855 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature