Hospital-acquired pneumonia

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Hospital-acquired pneumonia

Respiratory system

Hospital-acquired pneumonia is an infection of the lungs contracted during a hospital stay.

Nosocomial pneumonia

Pneumonia is a very common illness. It is caused by many different germs and can range in seriousness from mild to life-threatening. Hospital-acquired pneumonia tends to be more serious, because a patient's defense mechanisms against infection are often impaired during a hospital stay. In addition, the types of germs present in a hospital are frequently more dangerous than those encountered in the community.

Risk factors for hospital-acquired pneumonia include alcoholism, older age, immunosuppression from medications or disease, recent illness, and aspiration (inhaling material into the lungs).

Review Date: 11/07/2005
Reviewed By: Cyrus Badshah, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Assistant Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & Medical Director, Chest (TB) Clinic and Directly Observed Therapy Program, Harlem Hospital Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.