Community-acquired pneumonia

Abstract

Introduction: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) today, as well as a few decades ago, is a current medical problem considering the incidence and the mortality rate of the population, despite the availability of new and powerful antimicrobials and vaccines effectiveness. Objective: Analysis of outpatients diagnosed with pneumoniae, determination of the most common risk factors for their development, analysis of the success of outpatients' treatments and complications. Methods: Medical exams of 38 patients were analyzed. Each case is chosen by following previously prepared protocol, including patients with respiratory symptoms and infectious syndrome, positive auscultatory findings on the lungs which are radiologicaly confirmed and laboratory treated (SE, Le, FBC, the first and the tenth day of the therapy). Demographic data and associated illnesses, as well as a severity assessment of the illness, were made at the first medical examination, when pneumonia was suspected. Results: In the period from 01.11.2014 to 01.05.2015, there were 33 diagnosed pneumoniae. Associated illnesses, in population older than 65 years, were present in 92.85% of patients and some of them had two or three comorbidities. CRB65 proved itself as a good parameter in assessment of the disease severity for both groups. Applied antibiotic therapy proved to be effective in 80% of patients. There is no significant difference in pneumonia presentation with regards to gender and age. In data proccessing, descriptive statistics methods and no parameter x2 test were used for statistical significance assessment. Conclusion: All patients with clear indications should be hospitalized, but large percentage of patients can be treated in outpatints' facilities, with good patient cooperation. Also vaccination, as an available resource, seems to have not received a significant place in our environment.

Keywords

• community acquired pneumonia
• risk factors
• therapy