Alternative Names
Nosocomial pneumonia; Ventilator-associated pneumonia
Definition of Hospital-acquired pneumonia
Hospital-acquired pneumonia is an infection of the lungs contracted during a hospital stay.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
is a very common illness. It is caused by many different germs and can range in seriousness from mild to life-threatening.
Signs and tests
A physical examination shows:
Treatment
Treatment aims to cure the infection with antibiotics. An antibiotic is chosen based on the specific germ found by sputum culture.
Expectations (prognosis)
Most patients respond to treatment and improve within 2 weeks. However, hospital-acquired pneumonia can be very severe and sometimes life-threatening.
Review
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. – 3/17/2009
