Multicenter Treatment and Outcome Evaluation of Aspiration Syndromes in Critically Ill Patients

Background:Aspiration syndromes (pneumonia and pneumonitis) have significantly different processes. An evaluation of treatment and outcomes for these different syndromes has not been reported previously.Objective:To characterize and assess antimicrobial prescribing patterns for aspiration syndromes in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and describe outcomes of those patients.Methods:A retrospective, observational evaluation was conducted using a convenience sample of patients at 27 hospitals in North America; these patients were admitted to an adult ICU with a diagnosis of suspected/confirmed aspiration or had a suspected/confirmed aspiration while in the ICU. Hospital demographic, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical outcome data were collected.Results:Over a 12 month period, 187 patients were observed. Aspiration syndromes included suspected aspiration (31%; n = 58), aspiration pneumonitis (12%; n = 23), aspiration pneumonia (55%; n = 103), and diagnosis not available (1.6%; n = 3). Antimicrobial manageme...