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BACKGROUND: The principal aim of the present study was to determine whether Acinetobacter spp. pneumonia differs from hospital-acquired pneumonias (HAPs) caused by other agents with respect to therapeutic success and survival rate. METHODS: This study includes 140 adult patients diagnosed with HAPs caused by identified etiologic agents between March 2005 and February 2006. These patients were divided into two groups according to the agent responsible for their infection (Acinetobacter spp. [n = 63] or non-Acinetobacter spp. [n = 77]). The groups were compared in terms of risk factors, therapeutic success and six-week survival rates. RESULTS: Previous antibiotic use and the risk of aspiration were independent factors responsible for the development of Acinetobacter spp. pneumonia. Hypoalbuminemia, steroid use and the use of a mechanical ventilator were determined to be mortality-associated independent risk factors for Acinetobacter spp. pneumonia. The clinical success rate at the end of therapy was 41.6% and, at the sixth week, the survival rate was 35% among patients in whom Acinetobacter spp. was the causative agent. Conversely, in the control group, these values were 43 and 32%, respectively (P > 0.05). We found that the use of the appropriate antibiotics for the treatment of Acinetobacter spp. pneumonia was an important factor in survival (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The outcomes of Acinetobacter spp. pneumonia do not differ from HAPs associated with non-Acinetobacter spp. in terms of therapeutic success and survival rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are few studies about hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) developing in non-intensive care units (non-ICUs). Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence rate of non-ICU HAP, the risk factors associated with mortality and the survival rates of HAP patients at 6 weeks and 1 year. Patients and Methods: Between March 2005 and February 2006, 154 adult patients (97 males) with HAP were prospectively evaluated. Immunocompromised patients who were developing pneumonia were excluded from the study. The HAP incidence was calculated and survival was noted at 6 weeks and 1 year later. Kaplan-Meier methods were used for survival analysis; Cox regression was used to identify the risk factors associated with HAP-induced mortality. Results: During the study, and not counting those in the ICU, 45,679 adult patients were hospitalized. Of these, 154 patients developed HAP (incidence 3.3 cases/1,000 patients). The mean age of those developing HAP was 64.53 ± 14.92 years (range 15–98). Survival rates at the 3rd, 7th, 14th, 42nd and 365th day were 91, 89, 69, 49 and 29%, respectively. Independent risk factors associated with 6-week mortality were: age [relative risk (RR) 1.026; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.008–1.045], chronic renal failure (RR 1.8; 95% CI 1.087–3.086), aspiration risk (RR 2.86; 95% CI 1.249–6.564), steroid use (RR 2.35; 95% CI 1.306–4.257), and multilobar infiltration (RR 2.1; 95% CI 1.102–4.113). Conclusion: HAP – even if it develops in non-ICU environments – is hard to treat and has a higher mortality rate. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]