CLINICAL AND THERAPEUTIC FEATURES OF SEVERE PNEUMONIA

The aim of this study was to specify the clinical, etiological, therapeutic and evolutionary particularities of severe and/or complicated CAP managed in a specialized 3rd line service.This was a retrospective study that collated the records of CAP hospitalized between January 2016 and December 2018. Severity criteria of initial presentation, biological and radiological workup, initial management of CAP and its complications were collected.We included 100 patients. The mean age was 60.7 ± 17.4. Eighty-six patients were smokers. The most frequent antecedents were COPD (39%), diabetes (24%) and hypertension (20%). The predominant fine classes were class 3 (23%) and 4 (29%). Chest radiography showed single limited (15%), extensive (45%) or multiple (26%) opacities. Bacteriological investigation allowed the isolation of a germ in 43 cases. Rapid respiratory deterioration was noted in 20 patients. The signs of severity noted during admission were: desaturation (100%), persistent fever (30%), arterial hypotension (30%) and obnubilation (35%).