Hospital patients may have risk factors that predispose them to acquiring pneumonia – older age, various respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, or impaired functional status. Certain Beers criteria medications (evidence-based drug recommendations in the geriatric population) can also put your older patients at higher risk for pneumonia.
The Beers criteria specify not only potentially harmful medications, but also prescribing practices. For example, excessive dosing, harmful drug interactions, and prolonged medication treatment duration can further increase risk in your elderly patients. Classes of medications that can predispose your patients to pneumonia include benzodiazepines, first generation antihistamines, barbiturates, PPIs, and others.
Our SIS providers stratify treatment protocols by the above risk factors and their sequelae, such as aspiration risk. Chronic corticosteroids or alcoholism may also lead us to consider Pseudomonas as a pneumonia cause.
Hospital acquired or ventilator associated pneumonias (HAP/VAP) are significant causes of morbidity (suffering from a disease or medical condition) and mortality, and usually require stronger IV antibiotics. But it’s critical to use only the shortest appropriate duration of IV antibiotics due to the risks of the medications and developing resistant MDROs. We employ consistent protocols for stepping-down to PO (by mouth) antibiotics – for patient safety and cost effectiveness.
Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Fatigue or mental status changes
- Fever, chills, diaphoresis (sweating)
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Tachycardia (fast heartrate)
- Infiltrates, plural effusions, or abscess (empyema) on imaging studies (x-ray or CAT scan)
If you would like to learn more about how IDS specialists can help you or your facility with all types of pneumonias, request an appointment today online or call (833) 967-2464.
