Open AccessOverprescription of antibiotics in patients with community-acquired pneumonia in the intensive care unit
Author(s) -
Rorak Hooten,
José Luis Márquez,
Kady Goldlist,
Rafael Urcis,
Matthew Adams,
Kathryn R. Matthias,
David E. Nix,
Mayar Al Mohajer
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
avicenna journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2249-4464
pISSN - 2231-0770
DOI - 10.4103/ajm.ajm_189_18
Subject(s) - medicine , pneumonia , intensive care unit , intensive care medicine , antibiotics , community acquired pneumonia , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , emergency medicine , pediatrics , staphylococcus aureus , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , genetics , bacteria
Purpose: We aimed to assess factors associated with therapy failure in patients with community-acquired pneumonia in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: Electronic charts of patients with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes of pneumonia who were admitted to the ICU at a tertiary academic medical center in Southern Arizona were reviewed. Results: Antipseudomonal coverage and anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) coverage were often prescribed (58.4% and 54.1%, respectively). Antipseudomonal coverage was rarely necessary as pseudomonal pneumonia was found in only one case (0.9%). Antipseudomonal and anti-MRSA coverage was not associated with improved outcomes. Conclusion: Overprescription of antibiotics in this population remains a significant problem. More work is needed to further limit unnecessary antibiotic use.