Antimicrobial Treatment of Community Acquired Pneumonia in Adults: A Conference Report

Authors:
  • LMLA Mandell
    LA Mandell
  • MNM Niederman
    M Niederman
  • TCThe Canadian Community Acquired Pneumonia Consensus Conferen
    The Canadian Community Acquired Pneumonia Consensus Conferen
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Abstract
Medical problem. This is despite advances in our understanding of the etiology, epidemiology and pathogenesis of the disease as well as the availability of numerous types of antimicrobials. For those cases requiring admission to hospital, the overall mortality rate can exceed 20% (1). Since community acquired pneumonia is not a reportable disease, it is difficult to obtain accurate statistics on its true incidence. Figures from the United States suggest that approximately 3.3 million cases occur annually in ambulatory patients. Data from England support an incidence of one to three cases of pneumonia per 1000 adults per year while in Sweden, the incidence is five per 1000. To complicate matters further, it is often difficult to identify the etiological pathogen. Pneu monia and influenza are among the leading causes of death in Americans aged 65 years or older (2).

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