Clinical characteristics and pathogen analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in elderly patients with community‐acquired pneumonia

Abstract

Abstract Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid pathogens in elderly patients with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods This was a retrospective observational epidemiological study using that elderly cases diagnosed with community‐acquired pneumonia receiving treatment at the Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Technology, Tangshan Hongci Hospital and Tangshan Fengnan District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A total of 92 cases were divided into two groups according to age. There were 44 patients over 75‐year‐old and 48 patients between 65 and 74‐year‐old. Results Compared with the elderly 65 to 74‐year‐old, the elderly over 75‐year‐old with diabetes are more likely to suffer from CAP (35.42% vs. 63.64%, p = 0.007) and are more likely to have mixed infections (6.25% vs. 22.73%, p = 0.023) or larger lesions (45.83% vs. 68.18%, p = 0.031). Their hospital stays will also be extended (39.58% vs. 63.64%, p = 0.020), and the albumin level (37.51 ± 8.92 vs. 30.93 ± 6.58, p = 0.000), the neutrophils level (9.09(6.26–10.63) vs. 7.18(5.35–9.17),p = 0.026) is significantly lower and the d‐dimer (505.42 ± 197.12 vs. 611.82 ± 195.85, p = 0.011), PCT (0.08 ± 0.04 vs. 0.12 ± 0.07, p = 0.001) levels are significantly higher. Conclusion The clinical symptoms and signs of elderly CAP patients are not so typical, and the infection is more serious. Attention should therefore be paid to elderly patients. Hypoalbuminemia and high d‐dimer can predict the prognosis of patients.

Keywords

• bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
• community‐acquired pneumonia
• elderly patients
• pathogen culture