From the Guidelines
Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Diagnosis
Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) can be diagnosed up to 14 days after hospital discharge [ 1 ].
- The definition of HAP includes pneumonia that develops at least 48 hours after hospital admission or within 14 days after discharge from the hospital [ 1 ].
- It is essential to distinguish HAP from other types of pneumonia, such as community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), to ensure appropriate treatment and management [ 1 ].
- The diagnosis of HAP is based on clinical presentation, microbiological confirmation, and the timing of symptom onset in relation to hospital admission or discharge [ 1 ].
- 14 days is the maximum duration considered for HAP diagnosis after hospital discharge, as stated in the guidelines for the treatment of pneumonia [ 1 ].
From the Research
Definition of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP)
- HAP is defined as pneumonia that occurs 48 hours or more after hospital admission [(2,3,4)].
- It can also be defined as pneumonia that occurs within 14 days of discharge from hospital 4.
Diagnosis of HAP
- HAP diagnosis is based on radiological confirmation of pneumonia 2.
- The diagnosis of HAP can be inaccurate in 35% of cases when objective radiological criteria are applied 2.
Timing of HAP Diagnosis
- HAP can be diagnosed during hospitalization or within 14 days of discharge from hospital 4.
- There is no specific maximum duration mentioned in the studies for diagnosing HAP after hospital discharge, but it is generally considered to be within 14 days 4.
Characteristics of HAP
- HAP can lead to severe illness, including the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation 5.
- The frequencies of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative pathogens are similar among patients with HAP, healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) 6.