Pneumonia: which tests distinguish community-acquired from h...

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Pneumonia: which tests distinguish communityacquired from healthcare-associated infection?

Takeaway
Study shows 2 routine laboratory parameters that distinguish community-acquired pneumonia
(CAP) from healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP), regardless of medical history or clinical
signs and symptoms.

Study design
Retrospective.
Identification of quantitative parameters to distinguish between CAP and HCAP.
Patients admitted with a diagnosis of pneumonia.
Initially categorized as HCAP or CAP based on history and bacterial cultures.
Additional lab parameters compared:
Creactive protein (CRP);
Mean platelet volume (MPV);
Red blood cell distribution width (RDW);
Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR).
126 patients.

Key results
2 lab parameters significantly distinguished HCAP from CAP:
Average NLR was 14.37 in HCAP and 9.39 in CAP (P<0.01);
Average RDW was 16% in HCAP and 14.098% in CAP (P<0.01).

http://www.univadis.co.uk/viewarticle/pneumonia-which-tests-di... 04-Jul-16

Pneumonia: which tests distinguish community-acquired from h... Page 2 of 3

CRP and MPV not significantly different between groups.

Limitations
Patients with HCAP may have additional infections affecting these parameters.
As infection severity increases, so does the NLR.
Prior use of medication may alter results.

Why this matters

Using this method, results can be obtained within minutes, as opposed to waiting for cultures
that may take days to grow.

Takeaway
Study shows 2 routine laboratory parameters that distinguish community-acquired from
healthcare-associated pneumonia, regardless of medical history or clinical signs and symptoms.

Study design
Retrospective.
Identification of quantitative parameters to distinguish between community-acquired
pneumonia (CAP) and healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP).
Patients admitted with a diagnosis of pneumonia.
Initially categorized as HCAP or CAP based on history and bacterial cultures.
Additional lab parameters compared:
Creactive protein (CRP);
Mean platelet volume (MPV );
Red blood cell distribution width (RDW);
Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR).

126 patients.

http://www.univadis.co.uk/viewarticle/pneumonia-which-tests-di... 04-Jul-16

Pneumonia: which tests distinguish community-acquired from h... Page 3 of 3

Key results
2 lab parameters significantly distinguished HCAP from CAP:
Average NLR was 14.37 in HCAP and 9.39 in CAP (P<0.01);
Average RDW was 16% in HCAP and 14.098% in CAP (P<0.01).
CRP and MPV not significantly different between groups.

Limitations
Patients with HCAP may have additional infections affecting these parameters.
As infection severity increases, so does the NLR.
Prior use of medication may alter results.

Why this matters

Using this method, results can be obtained within minutes, as opposed to waiting for cultures
that may take days to grow.

References

http://www.univadis.co.uk/viewarticle/pneumonia-which-tests-di... 04-Jul-16