The clinical and microbial characteristics of healthcare-associated pneumonia / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Healthcare associated pneumonia resembles hospital acquired pneumonia in patient characteristics and in causative microorganisms. Patients from healthcare facililties are are likely to be of old age, disabilitated and have associated comorbidities. Most frequently associated organisms are enteric gram negative rods and staphylococcus aureus. However patients referred from healthcare facilities are comprised of heterogeneous risk groups, so individual risk for harboring resistant pathogens should be assessed before treatment. People residing in healthcare facilities are also at risk for atypical pneumonia and viral pneumonia. Pathogens such as legionella and chlamydia should also be taken into account, as well as viral agents like influenza and RSV which could result in seasonal, mass infection in patients residing in healthcare facilities like nursing homes. Considering the high rates of antibiotic resistance in korea, a prospective trial comparing community acquired and healthcare associated pneumonia is needed.