RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Challenging Diagnosis of Non-Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Non-Mechanically Ventilated Subjects: Value of Microbiological Investigation JF Respiratory Care FD American Association for Respiratory Care SP 225 OP 234 DO 10.4187/respcare.04143 VO 61 IS 2 A1 Jonathan Messika A1 Annabelle Stoclin A1 Eric Bouvard A1 Jean-Pierre Fulgencio A1 Christophe Ridel A1 Ioan-Paul Muresan A1 Jean-Jacques Boffa A1 Claude Bachmeyer A1 Michel Denis A1 Valérie Gounant A1 Adoracion Esteso A1 Valeria Loi A1 Charlotte Verdet A1 Hélène Prigent A1 Antoine Parrot A1 Muriel Fartoukh YR 2016 UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/61/2/225.abstract AB BACKGROUND: Early recognition and an attempt at obtaining microbiological documentation are recommended in patients with non-community-acquired pneumonia (NCAP), whether hospital-acquired (HAP) or health care-associated (HCAP). We aimed to characterize the clinical features and microbial etiologies of NCAP to assess the impact of microbiological investigation on their management.METHODS: This was a prospective 1-y study in a university hospital with 141 non-mechanically ventilated subjects suspected of having HAP (n = 110) or HCAP (n = 31).RESULTS: Clinical criteria alone poorly identified pneumonia (misdiagnosis in 50% of cases). Microbiological confirmation was achievable in 80 subjects (57%). Among 79 microorganisms isolated, 28 were multidrug-resistant aerobic Gram-negative bacilli and group III Enterobacteriaceae and 6 were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Multidrug-resistant aerobic Gram-negative bacilli accounted for one third of the microorganisms in early-onset HAP and for 50% in late-onset HAP. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus was most often recovered from subjects with HCAP. Inappropriate empirical antibiotics were administered to 36% of subjects with confirmed pneumonia. Forty subjects were admitted to the ICU, 13 (33%) of whom died. Overall, 39 subjects (28%) died in the hospital.CONCLUSIONS: Integrating the microbiological investigation in the complex clinical diagnostic workup of patients suspected of having NCAP is mandatory. Respiratory tract specimens should be obtained whenever possible for appropriate management.