Document Type : Original Article (s)
Authors
1
Intern, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2
Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3
Resident, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine AND Nosocomial Infection Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4
Assistant, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Background: The outcome of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) ranges from full recovery to severe complications and death. Several scoring systems have been developed to determine the severity and prognosis of CAP. Among these, pneumonia severity index (PSI) has become the standard reference because of the prognostic accuracy, effectiveness, and safety as a decision making aid. Methods: We conducted a descriptive, prospective study on all patients with CAP who were admitted to the infectious diseases ward of Alzahra Hospital (Isfahan, Iran) during 15 months. We assessed our patients based on PSI scoring system and classified them into 5 risk classes. Findings: The mean PSI score in this study was 91.4 ± 33.3 (range: 19-166). According to the calculated scores for each patient, 9 patients (19.1%) belonged to class I, 7 (14.9%) to class II, 7 (14.9%) to class III, 17 (36.2%) to class IV, and 7 (14.9%) to class V. Conclusion: About half of patients admitted to the infectious diseases ward were fine enough to be managed as outpatients. On the other hand, 20% of the patients in class V needed intensive care. It seems that physicians in emergency departments should pay more attention to PSI scoring system to determine the kind and site of care. This scoring system can also be used to assess the prognosis of death. Keywords: Community-acquired pneumonia, Pneumonia severity, Infectious diseases ward
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