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Acta Clin Belg 2018 Nov 16:1-4. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

a Department of Internal Medicine , University Hospital Ghent , Ghent , Belgium.

Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death in older people, with high mortality rates (> 80%). One of the bacterial pathogens causing pneumonia is Staphylococcus aureus. The unique adaptive ability of S. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018 09 27;9:CD012416. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, NO.14, 3rd Section of Ren Min Nan Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610041.

Background: Pneumonia occurring in residents of long-term care facilities and nursing homes can be termed 'nursing home-acquired pneumonia' (NHAP). NHAP is the leading cause of mortality among residents. NHAP may be caused by aspiration of oropharyngeal flora into the lung, and by failure of the individual's defence mechanisms to eliminate the aspirated bacteria. Read More

Pneumonia (Nathan) 2018 25;10. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

3Department of Chemical Biochemistry, Section Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry; Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Background: (SP) is one of the most common pathogens of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), but recent reports suggest that its incidence may be declining in relation to the use of the conjugate 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine in children. We compared the result of the immunochromatographic SP urinary antigen test (SPUAT) and clinical outcomes in patients with CAP admitted in two periods of time: 2001-2002(CAP1) and 2015-2016(CAP2).

Methods: This was a matched nested case-control study of two prospectively recorded cohorts of patients admitted with CAP, with SPUAT and blood culture performed in all patients. Read More

Nurs Crit Care 2018 Jul 3. Epub 2018 Jul 3.

Medical Doctor, Department of Rehabilitation, Saiseikai Yokohama-shi Tobu Hospital, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, Japan.

Background: Post-extubation dysphagia reportedly occurs in 3%-60% of patients and is independently associated with poor patient outcomes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of post-extubation dysphagia, as diagnosed using our novel nurse-performed swallowing screening protocol, and to evaluate patient outcomes, including the frequency of discharge home, the length of the intensive care unit and hospital stays, the frequency of hospital-acquired pneumonia and death in the intensive care unit and hospital.

Design: This was a prospective cohort study. Read More

Am J Health Syst Pharm 2018 May;75(9):e184-e188

Department of Pharmacy, Midtown Medical Center, Columbus Regional Health, Columbus, GA.

Purpose: The safety and effectiveness of ceftolozane-tazobactam for the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pneumonia in a patient receiving intermittent hemodialysis are reported.

Case Report: A 79-year-old African-American man arrived at an emergency trauma center from a nursing home via ambulance with shortness of breath and potential nasogastric tube misplacement. His medical history included end-stage renal disease (ESRD) for which he was receiving intermittent hemodialysis 3 times per week, hypertension, sacral ulcer, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colonization of his airway. Read More

PLoS One 2018 5;13(1):e0190716. Epub 2018 Jan 5.

Institute of Medical Statistics, Computer Sciences and Documentation, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Thuringia, Germany.

Objective: From April 2013 to February 2014 we performed a multicentre prospective cross-sectional study in 541 German nursing home residents. We determined pharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae (primary objective) and other bacteria (secondary objective) in naso- and oropharyngeal swabs by culture-based standard procedures and explored the influence of multimorbidity and functional status on bacterial carriage.

Methods: Socio-demographic data, vaccination status, multimorbidity, nutrition and functional status defined by Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment were evaluated. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2018 Apr 29;24(4):272-277. Epub 2017 Dec 29.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kobe City Medical Center West Hospital, Japan.

The significance of blood cultures in nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) is incompletely understood. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and laboratory features of 515 patients with NHAP admitted to our hospital over an 11-year period. Blood cultures were obtained from 336 patients (65. Read More

Infect Dis Clin North Am 2017 12 13;31(4):689-713. Epub 2017 Sep 13.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5680, USA. Electronic address:

The incidence of pneumonia increases with age, and is particularly high in patients who reside in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Mortality rates for pneumonia in older adults are high and have not decreased in the last decade. Atypical symptoms and exacerbation of underlying illnesses should trigger clinical suspicion of pneumonia. Read More

J Clin Periodontol 2017 Dec 24;44(12):1236-1244. Epub 2017 Oct 24.

Division of Gerodontology and Removable Prosthodontics, University Clinics of Dental Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.

Aim: Professional oral health care (POHC) prevents nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) and its related mortality. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of POHC versus no POHC (nPOHC) and the monetary value of eliminating uncertainty by future research.

Methods: A German public-private payer perspective was adopted. Read More

Pneumonia (Nathan) 2016 21;8:11. Epub 2016 Jul 21.

Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.

It is now well recognised that cardiac events occur relatively commonly in patients with acute community-acquired pneumonia. While these events are more frequent in patients with underlying risk factors-such as those with underlying chronic cardiovascular and respiratory comorbidities, the elderly, and in nursing home residents-they also occur in patients with no underlying risks other than severe pneumonia. Recent research elucidating the underlying pathogenic mechanisms related to these cardiac events has indicated a probable role for platelet activation, which is possibly exacerbated by pneumolysin in the case of pneumococcal infections. Read More

Clin Microbiol Infect 2018 Jan 2;24(1):72-77. Epub 2017 Jun 2.

Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hospital of Lodi, Lodi, Italy.

Objectives: To evaluate predictors of mortality in patients residing in nursing-homes (NHs) or long-term care facilities (LTCFs) with diagnosis of NH-acquired pneumonia (NHAP).

Methods: We conducted an observational, prospective study (December 2013-December 2015) of patients residing in nine NHs/LTCFs of Central and Northern Italy with diagnosis of NHAP. Data on demographics, comorbidities, microbiology, and therapies were entered into an electronic database. Read More

J Am Med Dir Assoc 2017 May;18(5):453.e7-453.e12

Gérontopôle, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France; University of Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.

Objectives: Pneumonia is a frequent condition in older people. Our aim was to examine the total healthcare cost related to pneumonia in nursing home (NH) residents over a 1-year follow-up period.

Design: This was a prospective, longitudinal, observational, and multicenter study that was a part of the Incidence of Pneumonia and related Consequences in Nursing Home Resident study. Read More

Tuberk Toraks 2016 Sep;64(3):185-190

Clinic of Chest Diseases, Adiyaman State Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey.

Introduction: Pneumonia in cases with preceding hospitalization, hemodialysis, intravenous therapy, wound care, or chemotherapy within the prior 30 days and residence in nursing homes are defined as healthcare associated pneumonia (HCAP). The aim of this study was to compare the demographic and laboratory data, isolated causative agents and prognosis of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and HCAP in a large population in Turkey.

Materials And Methods: The data of 785 cases (average age 65. Read More

Int J Clin Pract 2017 Mar;71(3-4)

Section of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the most common non-obstetrical reason for hospital admission, the leading infectious cause of death, and a target for public reporting. CAP has thus become a target of quality improvement and pay-for-performance efforts. However, the relationship between discharge disposition and readmission risk has not been investigated. Read More

Clin Microbiol Infect 2017 Sep 29;23(9):678.e1-678.e4. Epub 2017 Mar 29.

Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Infectious Diseases Unit, Health Sciences Research Institute of the Germans Trias i Pujol Foundation, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Madrid, Spain.

Objectives: Tetracycline resistance (Tet) is a phenotypic marker of the livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) CC398 clone. The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence of MRSA CC398 in patients in contact with healthcare facilities and differences between patients with MRSA-Tet and MRSA tetracycline-susceptible (Tet) strains.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with MRSA from January 2012 to December 2015 were divided into two groups, MRSA-Tet and MRSA-Tet. Read More

Geriatr Nurs 2017 Sep - Oct;38(5):437-441. Epub 2017 Mar 25.

Department of Oral Function and Prosthetic Dentistry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Background: Nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) is a common infection among nursing home residents. There is also a high prevalence of dysphagia in nursing home residents and they suffer more often from comorbidity and multimorbidity. This puts nursing home residents at higher risk of (mortality from) NHAP. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2017 03 3;17(1):186. Epub 2017 Mar 3.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1921 East Hartford Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 5321, USA.

Background: The focus of nursing home infection control procedures has been on decreasing transmission between healthcare workers and residents. Less evidence is available regarding whether decontamination of high-touch environmental surfaces impacts infection rates or resident outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine if ultraviolet disinfection is associated with changes in: 1) microbial counts and adenosine triphosphate counts on high-touch surfaces; and 2) facility wide nursing home acquired infection rates, and infection-related hospitalization. Read More

Dysphagia 2017 06 22;32(3):383-392. Epub 2016 Dec 22.

Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Metropolitan University College, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) are prevalent conditions in the elderly. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between CAP, OD, and frailty in patients admitted to a department of respiratory medicine at a regional hospital. The outcome was mortality during hospitalization and within 30 days of discharge and rehospitalization within 30 days of discharge. Read More

Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2016 12 13;37(6):886-896. Epub 2016 Dec 13.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Severity assessment is a crucial step in the initial management of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). While approximately half of patients are at low risk of death and can be safely treated as outpatients, around 20% are at increased risk. While CURB-65 (confusion, respiratory rate, blood pressure, urea) and pneumonia severity index (PSI) scores are equally useful as an adjunct to clinical judgment to identify patients at low risk, the so-called minor American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America criteria are predictive of patients in need of intensified treatment (i. Read More

Yonsei Med J 2017 Jan;58(1):180-186

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.

Purpose: Patients with nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) should be treated as hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) according to guidelines published in 2005. However, controversy still exists on whether the high mortality of NHAP results from multidrug resistant pathogens or underlying disease. We aimed to outline differences and factors contributing to mortality between NHAP and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients. Read More

J Am Geriatr Soc 2016 12 21;64(12):e311-e313. Epub 2016 Nov 21.

Institute of Health Services Research, Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.

J Gen Intern Med 2017 01 15;32(1):71-80. Epub 2016 Nov 15.

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 2800 Plymouth Road, Building 16, 430W, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.

Background: Readmission rates after pneumonia, heart failure, and acute myocardial infarction hospitalizations are risk-adjusted for age, gender, and medical comorbidities and used to penalize hospitals.

Objective: To assess the impact of disability and social determinants of health on condition-specific readmissions beyond current risk adjustment.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Retrospective cohort study of Medicare patients using 1) linked Health and Retirement Study-Medicare claims data (HRS-CMS) and 2) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases (Florida, Washington) linked with ZIP Code-level measures from the Census American Community Survey (ACS-HCUP). Read More

Hosp Pharm 2016 Oct;51(9):768-777

Nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) has been identified as one of the leading causes of mortality and hospitalization for long-term care residents. However, current and previous pneumonia guidelines differ on the appropriate management of NHAP in hospitalized patients, specifically in regard to the role of atypical bacteria such as Chlamydiae pneumonia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Legionella. The purpose of this review is to evaluate clinical trials conducted in hospitalized patients with NHAP to determine the prevalence of atypical bacteria and thus the role for empiric antibiotic coverage of these pathogens in NHAP. Read More

Intern Emerg Med 2017 03;12(2):279

Medicina Interna 4, Hospital Santa Marta, CHLC, Lisbon, Portugal.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016 Oct 8;29(5):259-64. Epub 2016 Sep 8.

Dolores Sousa. Department of Infectious Diseases. Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña. Xubias de arriba 84, 15006. A Coruña. Spain.

Objective: The clinical response to ertapenem in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) at the setting of routine hospital practice has been scarcely evaluated.

Methods: We retrospectively compared CAP cases treated with ertapenem or with other standard antimicrobials (controls) at a tertiary 1,434-bed center from 2005 to 2014.

Results: Out of 6,145 patients hospitalized with CAP, 64 (1%) ertapenem-treated and 128 controls were studied (PSI IV-V 72%, mean age 73 years. Read More

J Am Med Dir Assoc 2016 12 3;17(12):1123-1128. Epub 2016 Sep 3.

Department of Geriatrics and Internal Medicine, Hospital of Champmaillot, University Hospital, Dijon, France; UMR Inserm/U1093 Cognition, Action, Sensorimotor Plasticity, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France. Electronic address:

Objectives: Acute pneumonia (AP) induces an excess of mortality among the elderly. We evaluated the value of a new predictive biomarker index compared to usual prognosis scores for predicting in-hospital and 1-year mortalities in elderly inpatients with AP.

Design: Retrospective study in 6 clinical departments of a university hospital. Read More

J Am Osteopath Assoc 2016 Sep;116(9):574-87

Context: Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is a promising adjunctive treatment for older adults hospitalized for pneumonia.

Objective: To report subgroup analyses from the Multicenter Osteopathic Pneumonia Study in the Elderly (MOPSE) relating to hospital length of stay (LOS), ventilator-dependent respiratory failure rate, and in-hospital mortality rate.

Design: Multicenter randomized controlled trial. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2016 Oct 1;22(10):662-6. Epub 2016 Aug 1.

Department of Internal Medicine I, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan.

To clarify the functional changes after hospitalization due to pneumonia in elderly Japanese patients, we investigated the changes in physical functioning, nutritional routes, and diet that occurred after hospitalization in patients with nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia (NHCAP). We analyzed 405 patients with NHCAP and compared findings with 448 patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Among the NHCAP patients, 140 (34%) patients showed a decline in activities of daily living function between baseline and discharge. Read More

J Dent Hyg 2016 Jun;90 Suppl 1:15-21

Purpose: The U.S. spends an average of $6. Read More

Pak J Med Sci 2016 May-Jun;32(3):694-9

Aysegul Yildirim Kaptanoglu, MD. Professor, Trakya University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of the Health Management Section, Edirne, Turkey.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between anthropometric measurements and Nursing Home-Acquired Pneumonia (NHAP) risk.

Methods: Consecutive patients of 65 years or elderly who were living in the Balikli Rum Hospital Nursing Homes were included in this prospective study. At the beginning of this study, the patients' anthropometrics values were measured. Read More

Respir Med Case Rep 2016 24;19:1-4. Epub 2016 May 24.

Division of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Sendai City, Miyagi, Japan; Laboratory for Clinical Microbiology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Sendai City, Miyagi, Japan.

Unlabelled: We presented three cases of influenza-related severe pneumonia/empyema that occurred in one season.

Case 1: A 76-year-old diabetic man, developed empyema as a result of severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) secondary to Haemophilus influenzae, as confirmed on sputum culture. Nasal swab was positive for influenza A antigen. Read More

Eur Respir J 2016 09 12;48(3):797-807. Epub 2016 May 12.

Dept of Pneumology, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Ciber de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain

In patients with pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), the risk factors for bacteraemia and its impact on outcomes are not fully elucidated. We aimed to compare characteristics of patients with blood-culture-positive versus blood-culture-negative pneumococcal CAP, and to characterise bacteraemic serotypes.We describe a prospective, observational study on nonimmunocompromised patients with pneumococcal CAP, from 1996 to 2013. Read More

Chest 2016 Aug 7;150(2):415-25. Epub 2016 Apr 7.

Department of Pneumology, Institut Clinic del Tórax, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, University of Barcelona - SGR 911- Ciber de Enfermedades Respiratorias (Ciberes) Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address:

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not a frequent pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, in patients with severe CAP, P aeruginosa can be the etiology in 1.8% to 8. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2016 Mar 7;16:60. Epub 2016 Mar 7.

BENECOMO, Flemish-Netherlands Geriatric Oral Research Group, Ghent, Belgium.

Background: In nursing home residents, it is not possible to distinguish pneumonia and aspiration pneumonia clinically. International literature reveals no consensus on which and how many characteristics and risk indicators must be present to diagnose (nursing home-acquired) pneumonia and aspiration pneumonia. The aim of this survey was to reach consensus among a panel of clinical medical experts in geriatrics and pulmonology about the characteristics required for diagnosing pneumonia, and about the risk indicators needed to consider the diagnosis aspiration pneumonia in nursing home residents with pneumonia. Read More

Intern Emerg Med 2016 Oct 7;11(7):999-1004. Epub 2016 Mar 7.

Medicina Interna 4, Hospital Santa Marta, CHLC, Lisbon, Portugal.

Nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) is one of the most common infections arising amongst nursing home residents, and its incidence is expected to increase as population ages. The NHAP recommendation for empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, arising from the concept of healthcare-associated pneumonia, has been challenged by recent studies reporting low rates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. This single center study analyzes the results of NHAP patients admitted through the Emergency Department (ED) at a tertiary center during the year 2010. Read More

Vaccine 2016 Mar 17;34(13):1496-1503. Epub 2016 Feb 17.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Background: Data on the efficacy of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV-23) in preventing adult community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among the target population of individuals aged over 65 years and high-risk individuals aged 19-64 years are conflicting. As the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recently demonstrated PPV-23 is likely beneficial to immunocompromised adults by the Grading, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework, we conducted meta-analysis to examine its efficacy in an immunocompetent population.

Methods: We searched the PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for randomized trials. Read More

Int Nurs Rev 2016 Jun 6;63(2):233-41. Epub 2016 Feb 6.

Sophiahemmet University and Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a resistant variant of S. aureus and can cause pneumonia, septicaemia and, in some cases, death. Caring for patients with antibiotic resistant bacteria is a challenge for healthcare personnel. Read More

Korean J Intern Med 2016 Mar 2;31(2):296-304. Epub 2016 Feb 2.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Myongji Hospital, Seonam University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.

Background/aims: Recently, the incidence of nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) has been increasing and is now the leading cause of death among nursing home residents. This study was performed to identify risk factors associated with NHAP mortality, focusing on facility characteristics.

Methods: Data on all patients ≥ 70 years of age admitted with newly diagnosed pneumonia were reviewed. Read More

PLoS One 2016 13;11(1):e0146338. Epub 2016 Jan 13.

Pfizer Deutschland GmbH, Linkstr. 10, 10785, Berlin, Germany.

Background: Pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia (pCAP) is the most frequent form of pneumonia. The elderly and adults with underlying diseases are at an increased risk of developing pCAP. The 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) was licensed over 30 years ago and is recommended as the standard intervention in many countries across the globe, although its efficacy continues to be debated. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2016 Mar 11;35(3):489-95. Epub 2016 Jan 11.

Department of Geriatrics and Internal Medicine, Hospital of Champmaillot, University Hospital, Dijon, France.

We investigated the positivity rate, the detection rates for non-covered pathogens and the therapeutic impact of microbiological samples (MS) in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in elderly hospitalised patients. Patients aged 75 years and over with pneumonia and hospitalised between 1/1/2013 and 30/6/2013 in the departments of medicine (5) and intensive care (1) of our university hospital were included. Microbiological findings, intra-hospital mortality and one-year mortality were recorded. Read More

Eur J Intern Med 2016 Mar 11;28:102-6. Epub 2015 Dec 11.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Internal Medicine and Critical Subacute Care Unit, Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Parma University Hospital, Parma, Italy.

Objectives: To investigate the association of different chronic comorbidities, considered singularly and together in Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) indexes, with pneumonia diagnosis in a group of elderly frail hospitalized patients.

Design And Methods: With a retrospective cohort design, all clinical records of frail (Rockwood ≥ 5) nonterminal patients ≥ 65 years old acutely admitted over a 8-month span in an internal medicine ward were evaluated. Pneumonia status and its categorization (community-acquired, CAP, vs healthcare-associated, HCAP) were defined according to chest radiology findings and validated criteria. Read More

Med J Aust 2015 Dec;203(11):441-2

NHMRC National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Guidance, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC.

Objectives: To compare the outcomes for patients with nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) treated completely in a Hospital in the Home (HITH) setting with those of patients treated in a traditional hospital ward.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting And Participants: All patients admitted by the Royal Melbourne Hospital for treatment of NHAP from 1 July 2013 to 31 January 2014. Read More

PLoS One 2015 11;10(11):e0140711. Epub 2015 Nov 11.

Dementia Collaborative Research Centre: Carers and Consumers, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Background: We systematically reviewed interventions that attempted to change staff practice to improve long-term care resident outcomes.

Methods: Studies met criteria if they used a control group, included 6 or more nursing home units and quantitatively assessed staff behavior or resident outcomes. Intervention components were coded as including education material, training, audit and feedback, monitoring, champions, team meetings, policy or procedures and organizational restructure. Read More

Korean J Intern Med 2015 Sep 27;30(5):638-47. Epub 2015 Aug 27.

Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.

Background/aims: Nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) is included under healthcare-associated pneumonia. However, the optimal treatment strategy for NHAP has been controversial in several studies. We evaluated the clinical features of NHAP compared to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in elderly patients admitted with pneumonia. Read More

Respiration 2015 8;90(3):235-42. Epub 2015 Jul 8.

Department of Pneumology and Respiratory Intermediate Care Unit, University Hospital of Cattinara, Trieste, Italy.

Background: Respiratory intermediate care units (RICUs) are specialized areas aimed at optimizing the cost-benefit ratio of care. No data exist about the impact of opening a RICU on hospital outcomes.

Objectives: We wondered if opening a RICU may improve the outcomes of patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF), acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), or community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2015 Sep 10;34(9):1839-47. Epub 2015 Jun 10.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kurashiki Central Hospital, 1-1-1 Miwa, Kurashiki, Okayama, 710-0052, Japan,

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of bacterial coinfection on patients with pneumococcal pneumonia. We retrospectively analyzed the incidence, clinical features, microbial distributions, and outcomes of patients with bacterial coinfection in a cohort of 433 hospitalized patients with pneumococcal pneumonia. Eighty-five patients (19. Read More

Acute Med Surg 2016 01 27;3(1):32-35. Epub 2015 Apr 27.

Clinical Laboratory Center Gunma University Hospital Maebashi Gunma Japan.

Case: A 92-year-old female resident at a nursing home was transported to the emergency department unconscious, hypotensive, and febrile. Chest X-rays and computed tomography revealed a permeation shadow in the right lung. The patient was diagnosed with sepsis due to pneumonia. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2015 2;2015:285983. Epub 2015 Mar 2.

Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92103, USA.

Background: Current risk stratification tools, primarily used for CAP, are suboptimal in predicting nursing home acquired pneumonia (NHAP) outcome and mortality. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate current evidence on the usefulness of proposed predictors of NHAP mortality.

Methods: PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, and CINAHL databases were searched for articles published in English between January 1978 and January 2014. Read More