Hospital-acquired pneumonia

Abstract

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is an infection of the lung parenchyma that occurs during the course of hospitalization. HAP is a significant source of morbidity, mortality, and increased resource expenditures. The attributable mortality for HAP is in the 30-50 percent range. The primary risk factor for the development of HAP is mechanical ventilation. The average length of stay for patients with HAP increases by an average of 13 days, with estimated additional costs of $40,000. Hospitalists manage patients with HAP either as an attending physician or as a consultant to patients admitted to other services. Hospitalists can initiate quality improvement strategies at the individual patient level and at the system level to improve patient outcomes and optimize resource utilization.