ABSTRACT
Background: Molecular biological techniques allow the identification of more pathogens associated with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Aim: To compare clinical and laboratory parameters of patients with CAP caused by different groups of pathogens. Material and Methods: In a prospective study, immunocompetent adult patients hospitalized with CAP were tested for the presence of a broad range of possible respiratory pathogens using bacterial cultures, polymerase chain reaction, urinary antigen testing and serology. Results: Pathogens were detected in 367 of 935 patients with CAP (39.2%). Streptococcus pneumoniae (10.7%) and influenza virus (6%) were the most frequently identified bacterial and viral pathogens, respectively. Pneumococcal pneumonia predominated in older adults, with multiple comorbidities, with elevation of inflammatory parameters and hypoxemia, like other bacterial pneumonias. Viral pneumonia predominated in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities, with a shorter hospital length of stay and lower mortality. Pneumonia associated with atypical microorganisms predominated in young adults, smokers, with subacute clinical evolution. Their hospital stays and lethality was similar to other bacterial pneumonias. Viral and classical bacterial pneumonias predominated in high risk pneumonia severity index categories. Although several variables were associated with the detection of a pathogen group, substantial overlap avoided the identification of reliable clinical predictors to distinguish etiologies. Conclusions: The clinical and radiographic characteristics were similar in pulmonary infections caused by classical bacteria, respiratory viruses and atypical microorganisms. Therefore, microbial testing for common respiratory pathogens is still necessary to optimize treatment.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Young Adult , Pneumonia, Viral/virology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/microbiology , Immunocompetence , Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis , Socioeconomic Factors , Severity of Illness Index , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Community-Acquired Infections/diagnosis , Community-Acquired Infections/microbiology , Community-Acquired Infections/virology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/diagnosis , Length of StayABSTRACT
Background: Simple but accurate tools should be used to identify patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), aiming at an early detection and prevention of serious consequences. Aim: To assess the predictive value of four sleep questionnaires (Berlin, Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS], STOP, and STOP-Bang) in the screening of patients with OSAS. Material and Methods: The four sleep questionnaires were administered to 1,050 snorers aged 56 ± 15 years (68% males) assessed at a sleep clinic. An overnight unattended respiratory polygraphy was performed to all patients to confirm the diagnosis of OSAS. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the four questionnaires were calculated. Results: Eighty four percent of participants had OSAS. The clinical variables associated with OSAS risk were age, male gender, hypertension, overweight, cervical circumference, waist/hip ratio, history of snoring, witnessed apneas and nycturia. Eighty-three, 86, 92 and 46 % of cases were classified as having a high risk for OSAS, according to the Berlin, STOP and STOP-Bang questionnaires and ESS, respectively. STOP and STOP-Bang questionnaires had the highest sensitivity to predict OSAS (88 and 95%, respectively) while the Flemons Index had the highest specificity (82%). Conclusions: Sleep questionnaires were able to identify patients with a high risk for OSAS but without accurately excluding those at low risk.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Young Adult , Surveys and Questionnaires/standards , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/diagnosis , Reference Values , Snoring/diagnosis , Severity of Illness Index , Prospective Studies , Reproducibility of Results , Risk Factors , Sensitivity and Specificity , Polysomnography/methods , Statistics, Nonparametric , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/etiologyABSTRACT
Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) causes significant morbidity and mortality in adults. Aim: To compare the accuracy of four validated rules for predicting adverse outcomes in patients hospitalized with CAP. Patients and Methods: We compared the pneumonia severity index (PSI), British Thoracic Society score (CURB-65), SMART-COP and severe CAP score (SCAP) in 659 immunocompetent adult patients aged 18 to 101 years, 52% male, hospitalized with CAP. Major adverse outcomes were: admission to ICU, need for mechanical ventilation (MV), in-hospital complications and 30-day mortality. Mean hospital length of stay (LOS) was also evaluated. The predictive indexes were compared based on sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: Of the studied patients, 77% had comorbidities, 23% were admitted to the intensive care unit and 12% needed mechanical ventilation. The rate of all adverse outcomes and hospital LOS increased directly with increasing PSI, CURB-65, SMART-COP and SCAP scores. The sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve of the prognostic indexes to predict adverse events were: Admission to ICU (PSI: 0.48, 0.84 and 0.73; SMART-COP: 0.97, 0.23 and 0.75; SCAP: 0.57, 0.81 and 0.76); use of MV (PSI: 0.44, 0.84 and 0.75; SMART-COP: 0.96, 0.35 and 0.84; SCAP: 0.53, 0.87 and 0.78); 30-days mortality (PSI: 0.45, 0.97 and 0.83; SMART-COP: 0.94, 0.29 and 0.77; SCAP: 0.53, 0.95 and 0.81). CURB-65 had a lower discriminatory power compared to the other indices. Conclusions: PSI score and SCAP were more accurate and specific and SMART-COP was more sensitive to predict the risk of death. SMART-COP was more sensitive and SCAP was more specific in predicting the use of mechanical ventilation.