Condition Lookup
Category:
Nosocomial Infections
Number of Conditions: 3
Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP) and Ventilator-Associated Event (VAE) Empiric Therapy
Specialty: Infectious Diseases
Category: Nosocomial Infections
Symptoms:
fever; increased respiratory secretions; new or worsening infiltrates on chest x-rays; cough; shortness of breath; elevated white blood cell count
Root Cause:
Infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter, or MRSA due to prolonged hospital stay or mechanical ventilation.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical suspicion, imaging studies, and microbiological culture from respiratory secretions.
Treatment:
Empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics based on local antibiograms, later narrowed by culture results.
Medications:
Piperacillin-tazobactam (beta-lactam), vancomycin (glycopeptide), or meropenem (carbapenem).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common nosocomial infection, especially in ICU settings; incidence is approximately 5-15% among intubated patients.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Mechanical ventilation, prolonged hospitalization, immunosuppression, prior antibiotic use, and invasive procedures.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies based on pathogen and promptness of treatment; higher mortality rates in multidrug-resistant infections.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and prolonged hospitalization.
Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (Nosocomial Pneumonia) and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Specialty: Infectious Diseases
Category: Nosocomial Infections
Symptoms:
fever; increased or purulent respiratory secretions; dyspnea; cough; lung infiltrates on imaging; hypoxemia
Root Cause:
Infections caused by bacterial pathogens, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, or Staphylococcus aureus, often due to prolonged intubation or inadequate sterile procedures.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical presentation, microbiological analysis of respiratory samples, imaging, and clinical scoring systems (e.g., CPIS).
Treatment:
Targeted antibiotic therapy based on culture results and supportive care.
Medications:
Linezolid (oxazolidinone), ceftazidime-avibactam (beta-lactam), or tobramycin (aminoglycoside).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Among the most common hospital-acquired infections; approximately 25% of ICU patients on ventilators are affected.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prolonged mechanical ventilation, sedation, immobility, poor oral hygiene, and broad-spectrum antibiotic use.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Mortality rates vary but can exceed 30% in severe cases; timely and effective treatment improves outcomes.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Sepsis, organ failure, prolonged ICU stay, and resistance to multiple antibiotics.
Hospital-Acquired, Health Care-Associated, and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Organism-Specific Therapy
Specialty: Infectious Diseases
Category: Nosocomial Infections
Symptoms:
persistent fever; worsening respiratory function; cough with discolored sputum; pleuritic chest pain; respiratory distress
Root Cause:
Targeted infection management based on specific pathogens, such as MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or Acinetobacter baumannii.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Microbiological identification of causative organism via sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage cultures.
Treatment:
Narrow-spectrum antibiotics based on susceptibility patterns; escalation or de-escalation as needed.
Medications:
Ceftaroline (cephalosporin), colistin (polymyxins), or imipenem-cilastatin (carbapenem).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Variable depending on institutional practices; most prevalent in ICU settings.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Invasive medical devices, immunocompromised state, long hospital stays, and resistance patterns of local flora.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Pathogen-specific; multidrug-resistant organisms worsen outcomes.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Respiratory failure, systemic infections, abscess formation, and prolonged need for ventilatory support.