ABSTRACT
Pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the number-one cause of death from infectious diseases [1]. The infection can occur in patients who are living in the community (community-acquired pneumonia, CAP) or in those who are already hospitalized (nosocomial pneumonia, NP), but today the distinction between community and nosocomial infection is less clear because the ‘‘community’’ includes complex patients such as those who have recently been hospitalized, those in nursing homes, and those with chronic diseases who are commonly managed in such facilities as dialysis centers or nursing homes. Although patients with varying degrees of immune function can be affected by CAP, this discussion is confined to patients with CAP admitted to the hospital who are immune competent individuals, and excludes discussion of patients with HIV infection or traditional immune suppression (cancer chemotherapy, immune suppressive medications).
