Hospital Acquired Pneumonia

Alternate Names : Nosocomial Pneumonia

What can be done to prevent the infection?

Infection control measures in the hospital monitor for hospital-acquired pneumonia. There is little that can be done in a specific person to prevent this infection.

What are the long-term effects of the infection?

Severe hospital-acquired pneumonia can cause long-term damage to the lungs. A person who is weakened by other diseases, such as heart disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as emphysema, are more susceptible to the serious effects of pneumonia. Pneumonia is a common cause of death.

What are the risks to others?

Pneumonia is contagious and can be spread to others. Hospital acquired pneumonia tends to affect those who are already quite sick, so healthy persons are often at little risk. Those with hospital acquired pneumonia may need to be isolated from other hospital patients.