<p> Pneumonia is a serious clinical problem with associated high mortality and morbidity. It can be potentially life threatening in the elderly and in patients with other comorbid diseases. Its clinical spectrum ranges from rapid resolution of symptoms to severe medical complications and death.</p><p> At least 1.2 million people are admitted to the hospital with pneumonia each year in the United States, and approximately 10% of these patients will die within 30 days of admission. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the majority of pneumonias respond well to treatment, but the infection kills 40,000–70,000 people each year. Given its public health significance, pneumonia has been the target of quality improvement activities for nearly 2 decades. This began with the publication of clinical practice guidelines in the early 1990s, was followed by a series of statewide and national quality improvement initiatives, and more recently has included public reporting and pay-for-performance programs led by the Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other payers. The aim of the study was to examine the association of antibiotic timing and reduced mortality. Data from a retrospective cohort of 550 patients hospitalized and discharged with a diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia was collected from a community hospital located in Southern California. It was hypothesized that antibiotics administered within the first six hours of hospital arrival for patients discharged with a principal diagnosis of pneumonia is associated with decreased inpatient mortality. It was noted that this association was not supported.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:1523080 |
| Date | 09 August 2013 |
| Creators | Cazares, Robert |
| Publisher | California State University, Long Beach |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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