Community acquired pneumonia in adults: A review of clinical features, aetiology, treatment and outcome

Abstract

A retrospective review of case records of adult patients admitted to Hospital USM between January 1990 and June 1993 with community-acquired pneumonia was done. There was a total of ninety patients (56 males, 34 females). About one third of patients had neither fever nor cough and chest signs were absent in 10% of patients. Seventy percent of patients had one or more underlying disease, the commonest being chronic respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease. Aetiological pathogens were identified in 40% of patients (the commonest was Klebsiella pneumoniae followed by Haemophilus influenzae). Streptococcus pneumoniae was detected in only three patients. Ampicillin was the most common initial antibiotic used and the majority of patients (90%) improved without complication. The mortality rate was 10%. Three of the six patients who died of pneumonia (septicaemia) had underlying diabetes mellitus.