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Review
. 2016 Feb 25;17(3):287.
doi: 10.3390/ijms17030287.

Non-Intensive Care Unit Acquired Pneumonia: A New Clinical Entity?

Marta Di Pasquale  1 , Stefano Aliberti  2 , Marco Mantero  3 , Sonia Bianchini  4 , Francesco Blasi  5
Affiliations
Review

Non-Intensive Care Unit Acquired Pneumonia: A New Clinical Entity?

Marta Di Pasquale et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is a frequent cause of nosocomial infections, responsible for great morbidity and mortality worldwide. The majority of studies on HAP have been conducted in patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU), as mechanical ventilation represents a major risk factor for nosocomial pneumonia and specifically for ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, epidemiological data seem to be different between patients acquiring HAP in the ICU vs. general wards, suggesting the importance of identifying non ICU-acquired pneumonia (NIAP) as a clinical distinct entity in terms of both etiology and management. Early detection of NIAP, along with an individualized management, is needed to reduce antibiotic use and side effects, bacterial resistance and mortality. The present article reviews the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of NIAP.

Keywords: hospital acquired pneumonia; microbiology; nosocomial infection; prevention; risk factors.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Inclusion and exclusion criteria used during the literature search. ATS American Thoracic Society, HAP hospital acquired pneumonia, ICU intensive care unit.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pathogenesis. ICU intensive care unit; NGT nasogastric tube.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Categories of non ICU acquired pneumonia (NIAP).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Etiologic pathogens according to categories of non-ICU acquired pneumonia (NIAP).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Management strategies for a patient with suspected non ICU acquired pneumonia (NIAP).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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