Abstract

JULIAN-JIMENEZ, A.  and  SEMES. grupo INFURG et al. Characteristics and epidemiological changes for patients with community-acquired pneumonia in hospital emergency departments. Anales Sis San Navarra [online]. 2013, vol.36, n.3, pp.387-395. ISSN 1137-6627.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1137-66272013000300004.

Background: The aim of this paper is to determine both the prevalence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the A & EDepartment and the most relevant epidemiological changes in the last decade, as well as the profile and management of these patients. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional analysis at 49 Spanish A & EDepartments during 12 months. All patients with infections, respiratory infection or CAP diagnosis were included. All patients attended to in A & E during the study were recorded as well. Results: CAP has increased its prevalence among patients in the A & EDepartments in the past decade (0.85% to 1.35%, p <0.001). Fifty-one per cent were over 70 years old. Sixty-nine point eight per cent had some underlying disease and 17.8% had risk factors. Eleven point seven per cent met sepsis criteria, 4.6% severe sepsis and 3% septic shock. Thirty-seven per cent of patients were directly discharged from the A & EDepartments. Conclusions: The impact and prevalence of CAP in A & EDepartments has increased in the last decade. It is the most common cause of sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock, admission to intensive care units and death due to infectious disease.

Keywords : Community-acquired pneumonia; Epidemiology; Accident and Emergency Departments (A & E); Respiratory tract infection.

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