Antibiotic therapy of hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia: an international perspective from the CAPO Cohort Study.

The American Thoracic Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America have developed evidence-based guidelines for the therapy of hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). In an attempt to evaluate if the care provided to hospitalized patients with CAP is in compliance with the care recommended by national guidelines, an international network of investigators has been collecting data from 40 hospitals in 13 countries. The care provided in the following areas of antibiotic therapy was analyzed: empiric antibiotic therapy, timing of initial antibiotic therapy, and switch from intravenous to oral antibiotic therapy. Lack of compliance with national guidelines was identified in all areas of antibiotic therapy. Compliance at the local level can be improved with the implementation of a hospital-based pneumonia quality improvement team. Improving compliance with national guidelines recommendations will produce a beneficial effect in CAP clinical and economic outcomes.