Abstract

BackgroundCommunity-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of infection related mortality. Few studies have specifically evaluated the microbial etiology of CAP in immunocompromised patients. Using a large national inpatient database, we compared the microbial etiology of CAP in immunocompromised patients compared to immunocompetent patients.MethodsWe included adult patients admitted with pneumonia from 2010-2015 to 176 US hospitals participating in Premier. Patients were identified as having CAP if they had a chest X-ray and were on antimicrobials on the first day. Immunocompromised was defined by the receipt of immunosuppressive medications or ICD-9 codes for neutropenia/ hematological malignancy/ organ transplantation or comorbidities with AIDS. For microbial etiology, patients were included if they had a positive culture or test collected by hospital day 0 through 3. Patients with identical bacteria in blood and urine were excluded.ResultsA total of 168,159 patients had a diagnosis of CAP with a culture/test performed on first 3 days. A pathogen was detected in 18.8% of patients. Among pathogen positive patients, 4,851 patients were identified as immunocompromised and 26,752 as immunocompetent. Almost all patients (99%) had at least one culture, blood (96%) and respiratory (51%). Among patients who were immunocompromised, the most common bacterial pathogens (compared to immunocompetent patients) were, S. pneumoniae (17.7% vs 19.0%), MRSA (13.1% vs 14.4%), MSSA (12.0% vs 11.8%), P. aeruginosa (12.0% vs 9.9%), E. coli (7.4% vs 6.4%), K. pneumoniae (5.8% vs 4.9%), H. influenzae (5.5% vs 5.5%), M. pneumoniae (3.0% vs 3.0%) and L. pneumophila (0.93% vs 1.2%). Among viral pathogens, while the most common were influenza virus (12.9% vs 14.1%) followed by rhinovirus (1.5% vs 0.89%), immunocompromised patients has a higher prevalence of noninfluennza viruses (3.42% vs 2.43%).ConclusionIn a large US inpatient sample, the causative organisms in immunocompromised patients did not differ much from those in immunocompetent patients. CAP pathogens in immunocompromised patients were more likely to involve gram-negative bacilli such as P.aeruginosa and E.coli, than gram-positive cocci. These findings may have implications when deciding on empiric therapy in these patients.DisclosuresAbhishek Deshpande, MD, PhD, Ferring Pharmaceuticals (Advisor or Review Panel member)Merck (Consultant)

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call