INVESTIGATION OF THE TREATMENT OF COMMUNITY ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA AT HOC MON REGIONAL GENERAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

The treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has become increasingly challenging due to growing antimicrobial resistance among bacterial pathogens, with rational antibiotic use serving as a key determinant of treatment effectiveness. This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated antimicrobial resistance patterns and antibiotic utilization in 270 hospitalized CAP patients at Hoc Mon Regional General Hospital from July to September 2024. The median age was 69 years (IQR 59–77), with 65.2% aged over 65; Gram-negative bacteria dominated isolates (93.2%), led by Klebsiella pneumoniae (24.1%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.5%). Klebsiella pneumoniae showed 70–100% susceptibility to beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited 89–100% susceptibility. Empirical antibiotics most commonly included ceftriaxone (51.9%) and levofloxacin (40.4%), with overall appropriateness at 41.5%. Factors associated with treatment failure encompassed older age, higher Charlson and CURB-65 scores, and ICU admission. Although recommended antibiotics remain largely effective against common CAP pathogens at the hospital, suboptimal adherence to empirical treatment guidelines highlights the need for targeted interventions to enhance rational antibiotic use and infection management quality.