Risk factors for lower respiratory tract infections in a psychiatric hospital: a retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Psychiatric Care
• Hospital-Acquired Infections

Background:

• Locked psychiatric units face infection risks, with respiratory infections being a significant concern.
• Nosocomial infections pose a major threat to vulnerable patient populations in inpatient psychiatric settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors for lower respiratory tract infections (LRI), specifically pneumonia, in psychiatric inpatients.
• To analyze the association between treatments and LRI incidence in patients with schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study analyzed data from 4643 patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and 1826 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).
• Chi-square tests were employed to assess categorical variables and identify significant risk factors.

Main Results:

• Intensive care unit (ICU) admission and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were associated with a higher risk of LRI and pneumonia.
• Restraint use and clozapine treatment correlated with increased LRI and pneumonia prevalence.
• Dose-dependent increase in LRI risk was observed with clozapine, but not specifically for pneumonia.

Conclusions:

• ICU care and ECT are significant risk factors for LRI and pneumonia in SZ and MDD patients.
• Schizophrenia patients treated with restraint or clozapine exhibit a higher prevalence of hospital-acquired infections.
• Findings highlight the need for infection control measures targeting specific treatments and patient groups.