Pneumonia Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients, Based on Classification: CAP, HCAP, HAP

In 2005, the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) proposed a new category of pneumonia — healthcare-associated (HCAP) — for patients who have had recent contact with the healthcare system through nursing homes, hemodialysis clinics, or hospitalization prior to the active admission (Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2005; 171:388). Guideline recommendations and retrospective data suggest that patients with HCAP have worse outcomes than do patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP); however, prospective evaluation of these groups of patients has not been performed. Researchers sought to identify epidemiologic features and compare outcomes of patients who were hospitalized with CAP, HCAP, or hospi…