Pseudomonas aerogunosa pneumonia in patients treated at the Hospital for Chest Diseases

: Retrospective analysis of pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was made in 66 patients, treated in hospital. Nosocomial pneumonia was diagnosed in 11 (17%) patients. In 51 patients coexisting lung diseases were present: mainly COPD and bronchiectasis. Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were susceptible mostly to imipenem, meropenem, aztreonam, ticarcillin-clavulanic acid, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, amikacin, piperacillin-tazobactam, netilmicin. Duration of treatment in hospital was very long--59% were treated over 30 days. Combined antibacterial therapy was applied in 35 (53%) patients and monotherapy, often with different antibiotics--in 31 (47%) patients. Treatment was successful in 45 (68%) patients. In 9 patients the results of treatment was not successful: mainly because of empyema in 7 pts. Twelve (18%) patients (with coexisting COPD--6 and lung cancer--6) died. We can support current recommendations for treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection with combination of aminoglycosides or fluoroquinolones plus one of remaining antipseudomonal antibiotics. Treatment failures occurred mainly in patients with severe coexisting diseases and/or empyema.