Management of Unique Pneumonias Seen in the Intensive Care Unit.

Infection of the lower respiratory tract is a potentially severe or life-threatening illness. Taking the right steps to recognize, identify, and treat pneumonia is critical to improving patient outcomes. An awareness of the diversity of potential infectious causes, the local endemic flora and resistance patterns, as well as testing strategies to differentiate causes of pneumonia is essential to providing the best patient outcomes. Understanding surveillance definitions allow intensivists to become partners in reducing hospital-associated infections and improving quality of care.