Hospital-acquired pneumonia risk factors

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Among the factors contributing to contracting HAP are mechanical ventilation (ventilator-associated pneumonia), old age, decreased filtration of inspired air, intrinsic respiratory, neurologic, or other disease states that result in respiratory tract obstruction, trauma, (abdominal) surgery, medications, diminished lung volumes, or decreased clearance of secretions may diminish the defenses of the lung. Also poor hand-washing and inadequate disinfection of respiratory devicescauses cross-infection and is an important factor.

Risk Factors

Major risk factors for hospital-acquired pneumonia
Primary admitting diagnosis of burns, trauma, or disease of the CNS
Thoraco-abdominal surgery
Depressed level of consciousness
Prior episode of a large-volume aspiration
Underlying chronic lung disease
>70 years of age
Fall-winter season
24-hour ventilator-circuit changes
Stress-bleeding prophylaxis with cimetidine with or without antacid
Administration of antimicrobial agents
Presence of a nasogastric tube
Severe trauma
Recent bronchoscopy