Recurrent Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in an intensive care unit

We reviewed the records of all patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who had Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia over a 2.5-year period. Of patients with P aeruginosa pneumonia, 20 of 34 survived the initial episode of pneumonia. Ten of these 20 developed recurrence. In the nonrecurrent group, nine of ten survived hospitalization, compared to only four of ten in the recurrent group. Comparing the recurrent to the nonrecurrent group, factors associated with recurrence were the APACHE 2 score (12.3 +/- 2.7 vs 8.6 +/- 4.2 [p less than 0.03]), APS score (7.0 +/- 3.5 vs 2.7 +/- 2.1 [p less than 0.01]), and chronic pulmonary disease (8/10 vs 2/10 [p less than 0.05]). The recurrent P aeruginosa group was younger (63 +/- 10 vs 74 +/- 11 years old [p less than 0.03]) and spent more time receiving mechanical ventilation (95 +/- 64 vs 26 +/- 36 days [p less than 0.01]), in the ICU (101 +/- 61 vs 33 +/- 35 days [p less than 0.01]), and in the hospital (144 +/- 77 vs 84 +/- 32 days [p less than 0.03]). Although not statistically significant, in the recurrent group, eight of ten patients had tracheostomy and seven of ten had COPD, vs three of ten and two of ten, respectively, in the nonrecurrent group. Recurrent P aeruginosa pneumonia in the ICU is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and does not appear to be related to the adequacy of antibiotic treatment. Chronic lung disease appears to predispose patients to recurrent P aeruginosa pneumonia.