Hospital-acquired pneumonia

Alternative names:

nosocomial pneumonia

Treatment:

The objective or treatment is to cure the infection with antibiotics.An antibiotic is selected based on the specific causative organism detected by sputum culture.

Supportive treatment includes supplemental oxygen and respiratory treatments to loosen and remove thick secretions from the lungs.

Expectations (prognosis):

Most patients respond to the treatment and improve in 2 weeks. However, hospital-acquired pneumonias can be very severe and sometimes fatal.

Complications:

Elderly or debilitated patients who fail to respond to treatment may die from acute respiratory failure.

Calling your health care provider:

This disorder usually develops in the hospital and is detected there.

Updated Date: 02/09/00

Updated By:J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director, Utah Health Informatics and adam.com editorial