Clinical Outcomes of Immunocompromised Adults Hospitalized with Pneumococcal Pneumonia: A Case-Control Study

Microorganisms. 2021 Aug 16;9(8):1746. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9081746.

Abstract

S. pneumoniae is a primary etiologic agent of CAP in immunocompromised adults (ICA). Data on clinical outcomes of ICA hospitalized with pneumococcal pneumonia (PP) is limited. The objectives of this study were (1) to define clinical presentation and outcomes of ICA hospitalized with PP and (2) to compare the data to non-immunocompromised adults (non-ICA) hospitalized with PP. This was a case-control study of ICA hospitalized with PP (cases) and non-ICA hospitalized with PP (controls). Data were collected on clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes. Evaluated clinical outcomes included time to clinical stability (TCS), length of hospitalization (LOH), clinical failure (CF), cardiovascular events (CE), and in-hospital mortality (IHM). One ICA was matched to two non-ICA through propensity score matching. A total of 93 ICA hospitalized with PP and 186 non-ICA hospitalized with PP were evaluated. Antibiotic therapy was appropriate in all patients. Clinical outcomes for ICA versus non-ICA were as follows: TCS 2 days vs. 2 days (p = 0.392); LOH 5 days vs. 5 days (p = 0.067); CF 4% vs. 6% (p = 0.618); CE 10% vs. 6% (p = 0.375); and IHM 5% vs. 3% (p = 0.296). In hospitalized patients with PP who are treated with appropriate antibiotic therapy, the presence of an abnormal immune system does influence clinical outcomes.

Keywords: community-acquired pneumonia; immunocompromised host; streptococcus pneumoniae.