Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia
Alternate Names : Nosocomial Pneumonia
Definition An infection of the lungs contracted during a hospital stay.
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Pneumonia is a very common serious illness. It is caused by many different organisms and can range in seriousness from mild to life-threatening. Hospital-acquired pneumonia tends to be more serious because defense mechanisms against infection are often impaired, and the kinds of infecting organisms are more dangerous than those generally encountered in the community. Risk factors predisposing people to hospital-acquired pneumonia are alcoholism, older age, immunosuppression from medications or diseases, recent illness, and risk of aspiration.
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