Pneumonia acquired outside of hospitals or extended care facilities is known as Community Acquired Pneumonia.  Pneumonia and influenza are the seventh leading causes of death in the United States.  Statistical data shows that about 25 percent of all pneumonia cases require hospitalization.  This figure represents more than 600,000 hospitalizations, utilizing more than 4.5 million inpatient days each year.  The incidence increases with age, and more than 90 percent of deaths due to pneumonia are in people age 65 and older.  Assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle education are essential standards of care for persons diagnosed with pneumonia.

Oxygenation Pneumococcal Vaccination Adult Smoking Cessation Advice and Counseling Antibiotic Timing

Oxygenation Low oxygen (hypoxemia) in the blood is common in severe cases of pneumonia and is a known risk factor for poor outcomes in patients diagnosed with pneumonia.  Oxygen therapy has been shown to decrease mortality (death) in patients with pneumonia. This chart represents the percentage of hospitalized pneumonia patients who were assessed for low oxygen within the first 24 hours of hospitalization.

Pneumococcal Vaccination Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for persons 65 years of age or older, patients who are at high risk due to certain chronic medical conditions, and persons in a weakened medical state (immunocompromised). This chart shows the percentage of hospitalized pneumonia patients eligible for vaccination or revaccination.

Adult Smoking Cessation Advice and Counseling More than 430,000 Americans die each year from smoking related illnesses.  Smoking causes illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, problems with pregnancy and lung disease. This chart illustrates the percentage of hospitalized pneumonia patients who receive advice on quitting smoking. View the St. John's Mercy Smoking Cessation brochure (PDF)

Antibiotic Timing There is growing clinical evidence of an association between timely inpatient administration of antibiotics and improved outcomes among pneumonia patients.  The data indicates that antibiotics administered within four hours of arrival may significantly lower mortality (death) and length of hospital stay when compared with those patients whose time to first dose was greater than four hours. This chart represents the percentage of hospitalized pneumonia patients who receive an antibiotic within the first four hours of arrival.

 References/Resources:

• Health Care Financing Administration (US). 1999 Data Compendium. Baltimore, Md: US Dept of HHS; 1999
• CDC General Information on immunization.  Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMRW. 2002;51:1-6
• Fiore MC, Bailey WC, Cohen SJ, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD; US Dept HHS. June 2000
• Practice Guidelines for the Management of Community –Acquired Pneumonia in Adults. IDSA. Clinical Infect Dis. 2003; 31:347-382.
• Houck PM, Bratzler DW, Nsa W, Ma A, Bartlett JG. Timing of antibiotic administration and outcomes for Medicare patients hospitalized with pneumonia Arch Intern Med