Diagnosis and treatment pathway for pneumonia in patients with diabetes mellitus: a Chinese experts' consensus

Abstract

Patients with diabetes mellitus are prone to various infections owing to host immune impairment, especially pneumonia. In China, morbidity of pneumonia in patients with diabetes mellitus is high. And in case of pneumonia, patients with diabetes mellitus were of increased probability of opportunistic infections, low detection rate of pathogens, more severe pneumonia and high mortality, resulting in heavy medical and economic burdens. Therefore, it is urgent for multi-disciplinary experts to explore and formulate standards for diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia in patients with diabetes mellitus to improve the prognosis. Based on domestic and international literatures and clinical experiences of experts in respiratory and critical care medicine, endocrinology, microbiology and clinical pharmacy, a consensus was developed on the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia in patients with diabetes mellitus.