Etiology and clinical outcome of non-resolving pneumonia in a tertiary care centre
Jayaprakash, B.; Varkey, V.; Anithakumari, K.
Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 60: 98-101
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-5772 PMID: 22715555 Document Number: 660937
A patient diagnosed to have pneumonia and put on empirical antibiotics but did not show the expected resolution is a common problem faced by the clinician. (1) To find out the etiology and clinical outcome of nonresolving pneumonia in a tertiary care centre, (2) To find out the co-morbid conditions associated with nonresolution. 70 patients who did not show expected resolution after two weeks of adequate antibiotics were investigated systematically to find out the possible cause for non resolution and the associated co-morbid conditions. Tuberculosis was the commonest cause of nonresolving pneumonia (35.7%), followed by malignancy (27.1%), Bronchiectasis (8.6%), Pneumocystis pneumonia (7.1%),BOOP (5.7%) and Resistance to antibiotics (14.3%). Co-morbidities like COPD, diabetes, alcoholism, smoking and immunosuppression are significant factors causing nonresolution. This study stresses the need for a systematic approach to find out the etiology and properly manage nonresolving pneumonias.