PROACTIVE SCREENING ALGORITHM FOR EARLY-ONSET PNEUMONIA IN PATIENTS WITH OUT-OF-HOSPITAL CARDIAC ARREST: A BEFORE-AFTER IMPLEMENTATION STUDY.

Introduction : Early-onset pneumonia (EOP) occurs in around 50% of critically ill patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and is associated with increased morbidity. Prompt diagnosis of EOP in these patients is difficult because of targeted temperature management and the postcardiac arrest syndrome. We hypothesized that an algorithm for proactive screening of EOP would improve patient outcomes.