ABSTRACT
Pneumonia is one of the most common clinical problems presenting to critical
care physicians. The pneumonia can present as four main syndromes-severe
community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP), hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP),
pneumonia in the immunocompromised patient, and intensive care unit (ICU)-
acquired pneumonia, which is principally ventilator-associated pneumonia
(VAP). The first three are primarily causes for ICU admission while the latter
is one of the most common complications of ICU care. This review will focus
predominantly on SCAP and VAP. Pneumonia in the immunocompromised
patient is in many ways just a more severe manifestation of SCAP, while
VAP represents the severe end of the spectrum of HAP. Where differences
between these overlapping syndromes may occur will be commented upon
briefly.
