Secondary Respiratory Infection in Hospital Patients: Effect of Antimicrobial Agents and Environment

摘要: A prospective study of 358 medical and 234 postoperative patients with clinical evidence secondary chest infection showed that previous administration antimicrobial agents greatly reduced the chance obtaining a clear-cut laboratory report. In radiographical pneumonia this led to fourfold decrease in overall rate isolation potential pathogens. Furthermore, 81 diverse “coliforms” were isolated from 258 surgical who had received therapy while only four coliforms (all Escherichia coli) 334 untreated patients. Thus general hospital environment on its own seemed have negligible influence promoting growth coliform flora sputum. Any unique effect underlying disease regard was masked by therapy. Finally, results raised possibility might increased risk