Abstract
Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), one of the most common nosocomial infections, is associated
with a high mortality rate in hospitalized adults. The study aims to determine the prevalence of HAP
pathogens and antibiotic resistance rate at Suratthani Hospital.
We conducted a retrospective study of hospitalized patients aged 15 and over who were diagnosed
with HAP at Suratthani Hospital from January 2011 to December 2012. Data from medical records, including
patient characteristics and results from a sputum culture test, were used to demonstrate etiology and
antibiotic resistance rates.
A total number of 540 HAP cases were identified. The mean age of the sample population was 65
years old, with 54% being male. The median length of the hospital stay was 21 days. The four most common
pathogens were K.pneumoniae (31.2%), A.baumannii (21.9%), P.aeruginosa (14.8%) and S.aureus (4.3%).
Ceftriaxone resistance rates for A.baumannii, K.pneumoniae, K.pneumoniae ESBL and P.aeruginosa were 83.1%,
1.3%, 85.7% and 37.5%, respectively. Imipenem resistance rates for A.baumannii, K.pneumoniae, K.pneumoniae
ESBL and P.aeruginosa were 71.2%, 0%, 6.3% and 23.8%, respectively. All-cause hospital mortality rate was
29.4%.
High mortality and antibiotic resistance rates were observed among adult patients with HAP at
Suratthani Hospital. Information about the etiology and prevalence of antibiotic resistance of HAP in a
local setting may be helpful in the selection of appropriate antibiotics for initial treatment of HAP to
shorten the course of disease and length of hospital stay and reduce antibiotic resistance and mortality
rates.
