Treatment and Outcomes of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Hospitalized Patients: The Case of Jimma University...

This study was conducted with the aim of assessing the treatment outcomes of patients admitted to medical wards at a university hospital in Ethiopia with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia from March 1, 2008 to February 28, 2009.

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from May 14 to 19, 2009. Hospital charts of 104 patients admitted to medical wards at Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Jimma, Ethiopia, with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia were reviewed.

The male-to-female ratio was 2.5 to 1, the mean duration of hospital stay was 11.49 days, and crystalline penicillin alone was used in 67.3% of cases. Ceftriaxone was the most common second-line antibiotic. There were 26.7% of patients who were treated according to Ethiopian national treatment guidelines. The overall mortality rate was 20.2%. Patient age older than 65 years, respiratory rate greater than 30 breaths per minute, and comorbid tuberculosis were associated with poor treatment outcomes.

A high death ratio was observed in the present study. Proper adherence to standard treatment guidelines and better care for risk groups are recommended.