A 7-year study of severe hospital-acquired pneumonia requiring ICU admission.

<bold>Objective: </bold>To examine the characteristics, prognostic factors, and outcome of patients with severe hospital-acquired pneumonia admitted to the ICU.<bold>Design and Setting: </bold>Prospective observational clinical study in two medical-surgical ICUs with 16 and 20 beds<bold>Patients and Participants: </bold>During a 7-year period all hospitalized patients requiring admission to either ICU for hospital-acquired pneumonia were followed up.<bold>Measurements and Results: </bold>We diagnosed 96 episodes of severe hospital-acquired pneumonia, and in 67 cases a causal diagnosis was made. Most episodes were late-onset pneumonia. Gram-negative micro-organisms were isolated in 51% of episodes diagnosed, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent pathogen isolated (24%). Clearly significant variations happened between hospitals, particularly affecting the incidence of Aspergillus spp. and Legionella pneumophila. Forty-nine patients developed septic shock (51%). Fifty-one patients died (53%). Aspergillosis and pneumonia due to P. aeruginosa were associated with the highest mortality. Septic shock (OR: 14.27) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR: 6.11) were independently associated with a poor prognosis.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Patients with severe hospital-acquired pneumonia admitted to the ICU present high mortality. The presence of septic shock and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in conjunction with specific microorganisms are associated with a poor prognosis. Local epidemiological data combined with a patient-based approach may allow a more accurate therapy decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]