<i>Acinetobacter</i> pneumonia: Is the outcome different from the pneumonias caused by other agents

• Main Authors: Edis Ebru, Hatipoglu Osman, Tansel Ozlem, Sut Necdet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2010-01-01
• Series: Annals of Thoracic Medicine
• Subjects: <i>Acinetobacter </i> spp.; hospital-acquired pneumonia; risk factors; survival; therapeutic success
• Online Access: http://www.thoracicmedicine.org/article.asp?issn=1817-1737;year=2010;volume=5;issue=2;spage=92;epage=96;aulast=Edis
• ISSN: 1817-1737; 1998-3557

<b>Background</b> : The principal aim of the present study was to determine whether <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp<i>.</i> pneumonia differs from hospital-acquired pneumonias (HAPs) caused by other agents with respect to therapeutic success and survival rate. <b> METHODS</b> : 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 (<i>Acinetobacter </i>spp. [<i>n</i> = 63] or non-<i>Acinetobacter </i>spp<i>.</i> [<i>n</i> = 77]). The groups were compared in terms of risk factors, therapeutic success and six-week survival rates. <b> Results</b> : Previous antibiotic use and the risk of aspiration were independent factors responsible for the development of <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp<i>.</i> pneumonia. Hypoalbuminemia, steroid use and the use of a mechanical ventilator were determined to be mortality-associated independent risk factors for <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp<i>. </i>pneumonia. The clinical success rate at the end of therapy was 41.6&#x0025; and, at the sixth week, the survival rate was 35&#x0025; among patients in whom <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp.<i> </i>was the causative agent. Conversely, in the control group, these values were 43 and 32&#x0025;, respectively (<i> P </i> &gt; 0.05). We found that the use of the appropriate antibiotics for the treatment of <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp. pneumonia was an important factor in survival (<i> P </i> &lt; 0.001). <b>Conclusion</b> :<b> </b> The outcomes of<b> </b><i>Acinetobacter </i>spp. pneumonia do not differ from HAPs associated with non-<i>Acinetobacter </i>spp. in terms of therapeutic success and survival rates.